Relationships bear the fruit

Some time ago, and thanks to a few staff changes at MyST, some team members were moving from their established clinical supervisor to a new clinical supervisor within our service. In readiness for this transition, the supervisees along with the ‘old’ and ‘new’ supervisors reviewed how they had been finding clinical supervision, and what they would like to take forward into their work with their new clinical supervisor.One of the supervisees told the group that she had been to be very open in clinical supervision, and through this had deeply explored what she brought to her work and how she could use herself best in her practice for the benefit of her clients. She had found useful ideas and strategies, inspiration and motivation during clinical supervision. She felt clinical supervision had helped her to develop and become a better practitioner. Both the new and old supervisors were happy for her, and for the people she worked with. They were curious too – what was it that had made clinical supervision such a positive experience for her? And going forward, might she find ways to create or find this in her new clinical supervision?

The supervisee could answer their curiosity immediately. ‘I can really bring all of myself into clinical supervision when I know my supervisor will stay with me and is committed to the work we’re doing.’ she said. She went on ‘…when my supervisor believes in the approach we take at MyST and I know enough about them to know that they practice what they preach.’ As the group discussed things more, she made it very clear that it was having a clinical supervisor whom she saw as being reliable, committed and authentic that was the condition in which she experienced supervision so positively and effectively.

Her old supervisor recalled their long supervisory relationship, many sessions of supervision undertaken, and throughout these there had been many, many psychological theories discussed, many perspectives considered and many techniques shared in the pursuit of enabling the supervisee in her practice. Yet what created the context for these approaches to bear fruit? It was their supervisory relationship itself, the sense that there was commitment, reliability and honesty. For the supervisee, these had been the most important things which had possessed power to help her to develop and do well. On hearing about this conversation from our colleagues afterwards, we wondered how many other people would say the same about the encounters that have enabled them to grow and become their best?

Jen & Jael