Clinical Supervision, Reflective Practice & Creative Practitioner Support
I feel passionately about all people in the caring professions getting the opportunity to reflect on their work in a safe, thoughtful and inspiring way. This is called clinical, or relational, supervision, and is not oversee-ing, appraisal and case management; which is what we often understand the word ‘supervision’ to mean. I can hand on heart say, that without my own great quality, genuine and experienced supervisor, I would have burnt out long ago from the impact of raw emotion, traumatic stories, evert increasing pressures and declining investment in the NHS. There is much evidence to support the statement that good, effective clinical supervision helps pressured individuals cope and resist burn-out, work-related stress and other mental or physical health issues that impact on attendance and effectiveness at work. It is truly an investment worth making. We can try a session or two and see if we are a fit.
ARTS THERAPISTS
If you are an Art, Music, Dance, Drama, Play or Integrative Therapist, I would love to work with you! I have a breadth of experience in working creatively alongside, cofacilitating, supervising, mentoring, teaching and inspiring Art Therapists in their work, as well as clinicians from other modalities, and/or community arts.
ONLINE AND TELEPHONE
are forms of distance based opportunities that I undertake with people very successfully. I have been working with arts therapists and counsellors online via Zoom, Teams and Skype for more than 9 years, from places as far ranging as Australia, Indonesia, US and Egypt, as well as all over the UK. I offer a safe and contained shared space through the computer screen, where we retain art at the centre of your work by: sharing client’s imagery directly, using ‘share screen’ or by email prior to session; co-art-making using digital art Apps like Procreate, our own art materials or Zoom’s ‘Whiteboard’ and using additional online Apps, Searches or file shares as appropriate.
WORK BASED SUPERVISION?
Often people are given clinical supervision within their organisation, from colleagues or by line managers. Sometimes these people do not feel skilled or confident enough, or due to pressures, it gets overlooked or managerial supervision takes priority. If you and your Team are exploring other avenues and creative ways to continue to enable good quality external supervision, I can help. I can come to your organisation or arrange an independent space, or meet you online via a Zoom group, to take part in creative clinical supervision wherever you are in the country (or world). This will support you all in maintaining your own health, and a vigour and energy in your clinical work. Having someone outside of the politics of the organisation in which you work, can be highly beneficial.
OTHER PROFESSIONS?
You do not have to be an Art Therapist to benefit from my skill in helping you explore and reflect. You also do not have to be good at art, or to use art in your work, or want to directly use art materials in your supervision. My way of working obviously comes from a creative art therapies and artist's position and therefore offers special insights and ways of exploring that are exploratory and intuitive alternative perspectives. The concepts of safety and risk management are always present as applicable to your work and your Self. I have experience and knowledge of the NHS, Councils, mainstream, Special and Higher Education, support work within the community with people with learning disabilities, the elderly or mental health issues, as well as the private sector.
Clinical supervision or reflective practice sessions can be one-offs, at regular intervals, and for one, two, or a number of you together. They would be for between 1 and 2.5 hours usually, depending on the numbers in attendance.
LINK TO WEBINAR ABOUT HOW SUPERVISION HELPS IN SCHOOLS https://www.traumainformedschools.co.uk/online-supervision/free-supervision-webinar
Clinical supervision is required by many registration bodies, and is essential to healthy good practice - as therapists or counsellors, educators, social workers, or any fields where you work with the emotions and distress of other people.
Alison is highly experienced in offering wholesome, rounded, creativity-centred clinical supervision.