Clinical supervision is a collaborative process and a mix of supportive mentoring, education, and reflective practice. This way of working allows the practitioner, supported by their supervisor, to develop their clinical practice safely and ethically.
Creative supervision adds another dimension to clinical supervision. Working creatively allows the practitioner to bring new ways of thinking and perspective on their practice that extends beyond the formal demands of their professional role. There is no need to be artistic or creative to benefit from creative supervision, just a willingness to consider existing experiences in a new way. Using creativity and talking in supervision supports whole brain integration, allowing the unconscious mind to bring material to the conscious mind so that the practitioner can understand their responses and their clients’ therapeutic journeys at a deeper level.
Working through creative mediums such as art, clay, sand and symbols, as well as using other creative resources such as Lego, picture cards, and storytelling, allows the practitioner to reflect on their clinical practice as well as exploring the process of their clients in a creative way that can help bring fresh perspectives to their professional work and their own personal insights.
Creative supervision parallels the therapy space, allowing for a safe supervisory relationship to develop and supports the practitioner’s ‘felt sense’ of their own learning and their clients’ process as they gain insight into their client work and consider the transference and countertransference dynamics that arise. These insights can then be integrated into professional practice to enhance the practitioner’s therapeutic work.
Creative supervision allows practitioners to develop their therapeutic skills, techniques, and interventions. Creative supervision enables practitioners to explore their clinical work and their practice issues in a safely contained, non-judgemental space. The supervision model I use is based on psychodynamic and integrative principles.
Why is Clinical Supervision needed
Clinical supervision is an essential part of working with children, young people, and adults in a therapeutic role. Clinical supervision is required for many professionals to ensure safe and ethical practice as well as ensuring they uphold professional standards.