Creative Clinical Supervision

Clinical supervision is a collaborative process and a mix of supportive mentoring, education, and reflective practice. This way of working allows the practitioner, supported by their supervisor, to develop their clinical practice safely and ethically.

Creative supervision adds another dimension to clinical supervision. Working creatively allows the practitioner to bring new ways of thinking and perspective on their practice that extends beyond the formal demands of their professional role. There is no need to be artistic or creative to benefit from creative supervision, just a willingness to consider existing experiences in a new way. Using creativity and talking in supervision supports whole brain integration, allowing the unconscious mind to bring material to the conscious mind so that the practitioner can understand their responses and their clients’ therapeutic journeys at a deeper level.

Working through creative mediums such as art, clay, sand and symbols, as well as using other creative resources such as Lego, picture cards, and storytelling, allows the practitioner to reflect on their clinical practice as well as exploring the process of their clients in a creative way that can help bring fresh perspectives to their professional work and their own personal insights.

Creative supervision parallels the therapy space, allowing for a safe supervisory relationship to develop and supports the practitioner’s ‘felt sense’ of their own learning and their clients’ process as they gain insight into their client work and consider the transference and countertransference dynamics that arise. These insights can then be integrated into professional practice to enhance the practitioner’s therapeutic work.

Creative supervision allows practitioners to develop their therapeutic skills, techniques, and interventions. Creative supervision enables practitioners to explore their clinical work and their practice issues in a safely contained, non-judgemental space. The supervision model I use is based on psychodynamic and integrative principles.

Why is Clinical Supervision needed

Clinical supervision is an essential part of working with children, young people, and adults in a therapeutic role. Clinical supervision is required for many professionals to ensure safe and ethical practice as well as ensuring they uphold professional standards.

Creative clinical supervision benefits psychotherapists, therapists, counsellors, art therapists, creative therapists, coaches, social workers, medical practitioners, leaders, and those involved in supporting, or caring for, children, young people and adults. Teachers and school support staff are very welcome too. If you are an organisation looking for supervision for your staff, please email me to discuss your specific needs.

I am qualified to supervise PTUK (Play Therapy UK) trainees and qualified Play Therapists and TraumaPlay practitioners and trainees.

What happens in Creative Clinical Supervision, and how long is it?

Sessions are face-to-face and are for a minimum of 45 minutes per session. Sessions can be booked weekly, fortnightly, or monthly for as long as you need. Additional time can be booked if required, for example, when managing a complex situation or a safeguarding concern.

Qualified practitioners generally require 1.5 hrs of supervision a month. Please check with your professional or governing body to ensure you are meeting your monthly supervision requirements.

A supervision session would begin with a check-in conversation and activity before exploring any issues the practitioner wishes to bring to the session. The session may include client work, professional issues, or personal concerns. The practitioner would decide how they want to explore this material creatively, and time would be given for reflection afterwards. The session would end with a check-out conversation.

I offer individual supervision and group supervision. I currently run small group supervision for therapists and multi-professional groups. Please let me know if you are interested in joining any of my group supervisions.

Group supervision can be arranged for organisations, charities, and other groups. Please email me directly.

Group supervision is organised differently from individual supervision. It is a creative process and involves pair or group work, creative activities and reflective feedback in pairs or groups.

When and where is supervision held?

I work out of my studio in Wells, Somerset unless you specifically require on-site supervision for an organisation. If you are a qualified therapist and are allowed to have supervision over Zoom (or similar) this can be arranged. Generally trainees are required to have in-person supervision. Please check with your organisation how your supervision needs to be carried out and the ratio of supervision to clinical hours you need. 

Supervision sessions are available some days and evenings. Often practitioners and trainees work full time and can also have caring or family commitments, so I am as flexible as I can be with session times. Once we have agreed to work together you will be able to book your supervision via my online diary to make it as easy as possible for you to fit supervision around your other commitments.

How much do sessions cost?

Session costs vary depending on whether you are a trainee or a fully qualified practitioner and where the supervision takes place. If you are a TraumaPlay trainee, the costs are different again. Please contact me for my current charges.