My name is Lesley Hiscox and I offer Supervision both to Counsellors and to other professionals working in a wide range of “Helping Professions”
I see counselling as a journey of discovery and understanding….as a process that works towards change. I consider the trusting relationship built between therapist and client as being the catalyst for that change.
I see Supervision as supporting the therapist and facilitating the counselling process.
As a supervisor I aim for a Person Centred approach. I try to establish a collegiate relationship within the supervision, but will certainly question and challenge when I perceive that as necessary.
What Is Supervision And What Can It Offer?
I can firstly quote from Hawkins & Shoets “ Supervision in the Helping Professions”
“ Supervision is a joint endeavour in which a practitioner with the help of a supervisor, attends to their clients, themselves as part of the client practitioner relationships and the wider systemic context, and by so doing improves the quality of their work, transforms their client relationships, continuously develops themselves, their practice and the wider profession”
But more simply… I see Supervision as a time for reflection. However, it does require a balance between three very different tasks:
The supervisor needs to
1. To support and encourage people engaged in emotionally demanding tasks
2. To make sure they know how to do what is expected of them
3. To uphold agreed standards and support the supervisee to work towards them
What do I offer as a Supervisor?
- A space for reflection which is rarely available in one’s working environment.
- An opportunity for the supervisee to receive support and encouragement from another professional who has some understanding of their work.
- Sessions that are focussed on work-related issues – not personal growth.
- Importantly, supervision sessions that sit outside your organisations management structure. This enables us to look at issues from a different perspective
- I provide some “Quality Control”, ensuring that supervisees are working ethically and safety.
I currently offer supervision within an organisation supporting people with Mental Health issues and to other counsellors. I have also supervised a range of Health professionals. I work within the BACP Code of Ethics, have an awareness of local safeguarding procedures and work with supervisees to monitor their understanding of and adherence to the processes