Does supervision inform or alter our clinical skills and does it result in changed clinical practice?

Abstract

We believe that therapists – and their clients – experience regular change and we all need to rethink and adapt how these issues affect our clinical work. All therapists use self-reflection both alone and in supervision. The aim of clinical supervision is to encourage professional development and support, thus ensuring a high standard of clinical practise (Fisher, 1996, p. 443). Reflection she sees as aiding, educating, restoring and normalising clinical experiences of supervision. Current issues and adapting to the changes in society and therefore therapy are considered and a diagramatic example of a possible model for integration is included for possible future discussion. There are different levels and styles of supervision. This paper comes from thinking taken from colleageate supervision, i.e. supervision between experienced therapists, where the work together is to think through issues that are raised. This paper is written from the work done in a taped session.

Keywords:

• couples therapy
• medical therapy
• sexual psychology
• supervision

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the responders to this questionnaire, at the BASRT Conference, May 2008, and thank them for their help.