“Success is a journey, not a destination'

Ben Sweetland

****

If you are interested in increasing  your confidence or enhancing  your skill level, Ms. Brierley offers hourly Supervisory Consultation to those individuals possessing a Master's Degree, who are either newer to the field of psychotherapy/counseling therapy,  or seasoned counsellors. Regardless of your level of skill, it is important for clinicians to have a safe place to reflect, explore, refine, and clarify concepts while considering different perspectives , and enhance skill sets in order to effectively dealing with a wide variety of situations, clients or issues we as therapists deal with.  As an Approved Clinical Supervisory with BCACC,  Shelley brings in excess of 40 years'  experience in the field of consulting, counselling, teaching and supervising. Together, they have taught her a depth and breadth of understanding, insight and expertise  which she brings to her role as a supervisor, supporting  supervisees in their professional growth and development.

Supervisory Consultation has been defined in many ways, but is essentially a conversation between professionals aimed at promoting learning, reflective practice and improving client safety and the quality of client care. It is a circular process in which the supervisor involves mentoring the practitioner through dialogue and observation.  A natural biproduct of the process is that together, supervisor and supervisee become co-learners, collaborating for the best interests of clients', and society at large. 

 If you are wishing build your confidence or enhance your skill level, supervision for our purposes, includes: 

• Teaching: Drawing out one's knowledge which can involve advising, helping, and inspiring. 
• Intervention: An approved member of a profession, drawing out awareness, considering  behaviour, values and beliefs to gain new perspectives while providing guidance to another member. 
• Professional development: A process that aims to enhance the effectiveness of the supervisee. 

Some elements of effective Supervision include: 

• Clarification of supervisee and supervisors goals and hoped for outcomes
• Building trust and mutual understanding with staff
• Investing in the individuals' success
• Two-way communication
• Accountability
• Self - Evaluation
• Supervisory input
• An emotionally safe environment where one can share, reflect, ask, learn and grow

My primary focus as a Supervisory Consultant, whether in a 'one off' or in ongoing sessions, is to assist supervisees in identifying their hoped for outcomes, be supportive, facilitating supervisees in being the best they can be, in a sustainable, effective, and autonomous  manner, while  modeling the concept of  'life long learning'.  This is accomplished by creating and engaging in ongoing meaningful interactions in which awareness of present patterns of thought, statements and actions are brought to awareness so that the individual can align the same with those of ethical values, best practices and our authorizing organization.   

*****

“What can we gain by sailing to the moon

 if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves?”  

Thomas Merton

Painting by Shelley Brierley