Clinical supervision for individuals and organisations

• Trainee counsellors and psychotherapists
• Counsellors and psychotherapists in private practice
• Trainee clinical and counselling psychologists
• Registered clinical and counselling psychologists
• Supervision, consultation and reflective practice for therapists and mental health professionals working in the NHS or other demanding organisational contexts

Our associates cover a range of approaches, from integrative through to psychodynamic, and work with supervisees from trainee level up to doctorate level.

Supervision is available at our practice in Hove and Lewes depending on supervision requirements and associateavailability.

Who are our supervisors?

• Sam Jahara – A UKCP registered psychotherapist, supervisor and executive coach, Sam adopts a relational approach to supervision working with counsellors, psychotherapists and other professionals requiring supervision, coaching or psychological consultancy. She is also offers organisational supervision and reflective practice to mental health professionals and those working with vulnerable clients. Sam is based in Lewes and Brighton, and offers onlinesupervision.
• Mark Vahrmeyer – A UKCP registered integrative psychotherapist working with individuals and couples in private practice.  Mark has previously offered training and supervision to trainees in a clinical palliative care setting and now offers trainee and registered counsellors and psychotherapists supervision in Lewes and Brighton and online.
• Claire Barnes is an experienced group analyst, training group analyst and psychotherapist. She is accredited with UKCP and trained at Birkbeck and the Institute of Group Analysis.  She has been providing clinical supervision for nearly 20 years and holds a diploma from Society of Analytical Psychology. Claire provides supervision for group analysts, psychotherapists and counsellors. She works relationally as a supervisor with emphasis on unconscious dynamics including parallel processes arising in the supervision. She works in Brighton as well as online.
• Dr Simon Cassar – A UKCP registered psychotherapist offering supervision to trainees up to doctorate level and experienced clinicians with an integrative or existential stance. He works in Lewes and Brighton as well as online.
• David Keighley is a qualified clinical supervisor, consultant and experienced therapist in psychodynamic and existential modalities, EMDR, CBT and Schema Therapy.

What is clinical supervision?

Clinical supervision involves a therapeutic practitioner regularly meeting with either a colleague trained in clincial supervision or being a part of a supervision group to discuss casework and any other professional issues in a structured way. The purpose of this is to provide guidance, support, and feedback to ensure the practitioner maintains ethical and effective practices.

Clinical supervision is a mandatory and regulatory requirement for counsellors, psychotherapists and counselling/clinical psychologists.

Hunter and Kottler (2007) suggest that all counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists are socially constructed, and without appropriate boundaries defining the relationship, they can inadvertently impose their values onto a client.

The role of the clinical supervisor is one in which they are predominantly responsible for the welfare of the client. This is directly achieved through considering the therapeutic and clinical interventions of the clinician with their client. Hawkins and Shohet (2006) discuss how it is the very nature of a successful supervisory relationship that makes it desirable for dual relationships to be minimised and romantic relationships strongly discouraged.

There are many definitions of supervision, with each supervisory relationship and process being unique in its own right. Add to this the variables of therapeutic method, supervisory roles such as teacher, counsellor and consultant and the supervisee’s developmental stage, and it is clear that no two relationships will perform identical functions (Borders & Brown, 2005).

The nature of the supervisory relationship and how this differs from other professional relationships is an area explored by Lawton and Feltham (Ed., 2000). They state that it is both ignorant and irresponsible for the supervisor to become nonchalant in the relationship with the supervisee, tantamount to the therapist assuming there is an equal relationship between himself and the client.

Benefits of clinical supervision

Maintain ethical boundaries

Clinical supervision ensures practitioners stay within professional and ethical limits, protecting both the client and the practitioner.

Gain knowledge and skills

Regular supervision is essential and it is through this that therapists can deepen their understanding and improve their skills by gaining valuable insight from thinking about their cases with their supervisor.

Receive support

Being a therapist can be emotionally demanding. A supervisor provides a space where counsellors and psychotherapists can talk through their own feelings in relation to their client work to prevent burnout and ensure best practice.

Professional development

Supervision can help therapists develop their knowledge and skills through their expertise. Clinical supervisors can guide them in handling complex cases and in understanding where their limits lie.

Accountability

Supervisors help ensure that therapists remain accountable for their actions. This is crucial for maintaining client trust and upholding standards across the profession.

Improved patient care

Clinical supervision helps practitioners increase their knowledge and skills, which can lead to overall improved patient care.

Reduced stress

Having clinical supervision can help reduce stress levels of staff as well as complaints. It also increases staff morale.

What to expect with clinical supervision

During clinical supervision, a therapist will receive guidance and support from a more experienced and qualified professional or supervisor. During a supervised session, the supervisee shares their client work and seeks feedback, guidance, and support. Supervision offers the clinician the opportunity to ‘step back’ from their work and alongside their supervisor’s mind, consider their work from other perspectives.

Why choose Brighton and Hove psychotherapy?

Every member of our team is dedicated to helping people better understand their issues and who they are. Our practices offer help for a range of issues and can cater to the diverse needs of our clients.

FAQs

Who are clinical supervisors?

Clinical supervisors are generally experienced professionals in the same field of the therapist or counsellor, and hold necessary qualifications and training to offer their guidance.

How often should supervision happen?

This depends on the professional requirements, workplace policies, and the supervisee’s needs. It can be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.

Is clinical supervision therapy?

No, it is not therapy. It does, however, focus on the professional development of therapists and their client care so they can continue providing the best and most ethical care.

Is clinical supervision mandatory?

Yes, supervision is a requirement by the BACP and the UKCP  to ensure practitioners keep their skills up to date and work in an ethical way.

Areas we cover

At Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy, we have practices in Brighton and Lewes meaning local people needing help can get it easily within these areas. If you’re from further afield, we are located near the train stations for easy access.

Sometimes, it’s not always easy to make it into our practices, so we also offer online therapy and online supervision. This allows our clients to get the help they need no matter where they are.

For more information on how we can help you, get in touch with us now.

References

Borders, L. & Brown, L (2005) The New Handbook of Counselling Supervision. New Jersey, USA, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates

Hawkins, P. & Shohet, R. (2006) Supervision in the Helping Professions. Berkshire, UK, Open University Press

Hunter, S. & Kottler, J. (2007) Therapists are Socially Constructed Too. Psychotherapy in Australia, Vol. 13, No. 2

Lawton, B. & Feltham, C. (Ed.) (2000) Taking Supervision Forward – Enquiries and Trends in Counselling and Psychotherapy. London, UK, Sage Publishing