Clinical Supervision & Consultation
Trained in an integrative relational model of Transactional Analysis and later influenced by contemporary psychoanalytic theory and practice, my integrative model of supervision is focused on assisting clinicians to work with unconscious processes and develop psychodynamic ways of reflecting on clinical work.
The emphasis is on the clinician’s countertransference and conscious and unconscious actions taken within the therapeutic relationships.
My integrative model of supervision is focused on assisting clinicians to develop psychodynamic ways of reflecting on clinical work.
Individual Supervision
While the learning and application of specific theories and therapeutic concepts are an important consideration in supervision because they can help generate hypotheses about clients’ developmental, inner, and relational world I am more inclined to place emphasis on the development of the therapist’s unique idiom (Bollas) or way of working in my supervision practice.
To achieve this, my focus is on self-reflective functioning, clinician mentalisation, and the exploration of the clinician’s feeling states, thoughts, reactions and dreams, and other symbolic material to facilitate the therapeutic process and explore challenges presented to the clinician in their work. This, for example, could include the challenge of tolerating not knowing and uncertainty and exploring why and how this is difficult for the therapist in supervision.
The overarching objective is to integrate theory and practice with a very high degree of specificity to the qualities of the individual therapist being supervised. For the supervisee, this requires curiosity and courage to engage with the interplay of the conscious and unconscious aspects of themselves, the client, and the unique events that occur in the intersubjective space between the two.
Consultations for Clinicians
I offer a clinical consultation service for other mental health professionals to discuss or explore options relating to a range of issues including LGBTIQ+ clinical work and relationship issues.
I am particularly interested in working with ‘straight’ clinicians to enhance understanding of Queer experiences.
Consultations are conducted from a collegial exploratory position with a view to enhanced thinking and options even just within the mind of the clinician.
This might involve single or several sessions and could lead to referral to other supervisors if requested.
Please feel free to make an inquiry and we can discuss the option of supervision or consultation by contacting me.
Balint Group Supervision
Balint Groups are an incredibly rich and gentle type of group discussion/supervision which harnesses the group unconscious to explore aspects of case material without the intention of finding answers to specific clinical dilemmas.
The focus is on the therapist-client relationship and this is explored compassionately from both perspectives. My particular interest is in enhancing the use of the Balint Group supervision model among psychotherapists and counsellors.
Read more about Balint Groups here and if you would like to initiate a discussion about Balint Groups or to discuss joining a Balint Group contact me via email at: bmctherapy@gmail.com and I will get back to you.
New Balint Groups for mental health professionals will be forming in late 2023 for commencement in 2024. Please contact me for further information.