Counsellors and psychotherapists are typically required by their professional accrediting bodies to engage in regular supervision. This is as part of maintaining ethical and effective practice. Supervision is a fundamental component of their ongoing professional development, ensuring they provide safe and competent therapeutic services.
Supervision Approach
My approach is rooted in the philosophy that supervision is not only a space for clinical oversight but also a collaborative and developmental process. I view supervision as a dynamic relationship where supervisees can reflect, grow, and deepen their self-awareness alongside their therapeutic practice. In line with my approach as a TA therapist, the supervision I offer is also informed by a relational approach.
Working Relationally
From a Relational Transactional Analysis perspective, supervision is not just a means of ensuring clinical competence but a relational process that mirrors the core principles of therapeutic work itself. Relational TA emphasises the importance of the intersubjective relationship between therapist and client. This same philosophy extends to the supervisory relationship. The supervisor and supervisee are seen as two people in relationship, co-creating meaning and insight through mutual influence and emotional engagement. Supervision, in this view, is not a hierarchical process but one of shared inquiry. It is where both parties contribute to deepening the understanding of the clinical work.
Relational TA supervision, therefore, focuses on the relational dynamics that unfold between therapist and client, and equally between supervisor and supervisee. It encourages the supervisee to reflect on how their own internal world, experiences, and relational history are influencing the therapeutic relationship. By examining these unconscious patterns and how they may be reenacted in the therapy room, the supervisee gains greater insight into both their client’s and their own relational needs and defences. This reflective process is key to fostering authentic therapeutic engagement, as it allows the therapist to remain attuned to the relational dynamics that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Ultimately, supervision serves multiple purposes: it promotes reflective practice, enhances therapeutic skills, safeguards client welfare, and helps practitioners maintain ethical standards. It is an essential part of being a responsible and effective professional in the field of mental health.
Supervision and Core TA Principles
In line with TA core principles, I emphasise mutual respect, transparency, and empowerment in the supervisory relationship. I see my role as guiding the supervisee to examine their clinical work through the lens of the core TA concepts: ego states, life scripts, transactions, and games. I believe in creating a safe, non-judgmental space where supervisees feel supported to openly discuss challenges, ethical dilemmas, and uncertainties.
Central to my philosophy is the idea of autonomy. I encourage supervisees to trust their own clinical instincts while continuously questioning and expanding their understanding of themselves and their clients. I believe supervision should strive to balance providing support with challenging the supervisee towards greater clinical competence and self-awareness.
Amount and Frequency
The amount and frequency of supervision are influenced by the supervisee’s experience and the complexity of their work. For newer therapists, supervision may focus more on skill development and understanding core TA concepts. For more experienced practitioners, the process becomes increasingly collaborative and exploratory, delving into the deeper relational aspects of their work.
Ultimately, supervision is more than a professional requirement. Supervision is an essential relational space where therapists can reflect on and deepen their understanding of both their clients and themselves. By fostering mutual respect, transparency, and emotional attunement, supervision supports the therapist in providing ethical, relationally sensitive, and effective care.
If you are looking for TA Supervision
I am currently offering low-cost supervision as part of an ongoing Diploma in Supervision.
You might be at the initial stages of psychotherapy training and would like to prepare for your placement work, or you might be an established therapist looking for additional supervision in line with what I am offering. Either way, do get in touch to find out more.
