Supervision details
I approach supervision very much as I approach therapy: my supervisee is the one who knows the client; I am there to share my experience, my training, my insight, but above all empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard. I need to understand the client, yes, but above all I need to understand the supervisee (as far as I can) through their eyes, from their internal frame of reference. Each therapist-client relationship is unique, and it isn't for me to try to change it.
My watchword for supervision is encouragement. Just as each client is unique, so each therapist is unique: your way of thinking, speaking, being. Your strengths and your challenges. As a supervisor my aim is to encourage you to play to your strengths and discover how your chosen modality meshes with you as a human being. If you are a trainee I hope I can help you to find the richness and joy of that chosen modality rather than finding it a constraint or merely an underpinning to your work.
My approach is person-centred; I also use Focusing and other body-centred and creative approaches.
I offer supervision for person-centred or primarily person-centred counsellors and psychotherapists. I particularly enjoy working with and encouraging trainees who are taking their first steps in therapy.
It may be useful for autistic or other neurodivergent prospective supervisees to know that I am autistic myself; that can be helpful for autistic supervisees, especially those who have experienced difficulties during training. You can find an interview with me on this at The Squarepeg Podcasts, Series 2 episode 7: "Empathy, feeling 'alien' and being fluent in Neurotypical: being an autistic counsellor."
I am a fully qualified Certified Cyber-Therapist. I offer video supervision through doxy.me, which is a very secure and straightforward platform that does not require any download or installation.
For in-person sessions I work from the Quaker Meeting House in Kelso and from my house in Selkirk. In addition to my private practice I have worked for the Student Counselling Service at the University of Edinburgh and for several charities. I am a senior accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. and a Practitioner Member of PCT Scotland.
The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society This Not For Profit association of counsellors and psychotherapists aim to support the counselling profession, members and training organisations. In 2013 the NCS register was accredited by the Professional Standards Authority under the Accredited Voluntary Register Scheme. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
