What is Clinical Supervision

At Jénine Smith Inc., we offer supervision to mental health service providers within a contained, reflective, and supportive space. Mental health provides the opportunity to present challenging cases and receive feedback on supporting patients/clients in the best way possible. As impactful as being a mental health service provider is, it is also significantly emotionally depleting. Without adequate self-care, mental health service providers can become drained to the point of risk and the patients/clients they care for.

This underscores the importance of having space where the mental health provider can be rejuvenated and emotionally nourished.

Within the realm of clinical psychology, this procedure entails imparting novel concepts by instructing on psychological theories and evidence-based practices. Additionally, the Clinical supervisor aids supervisees in implementing these concepts in their interactions with clients, fostering an environment that encourages them to assess outcomes through both observation and self-reflection.

What is the framework of clinical supervision?

Typically lasting about an hour, clinical supervision sessions adhere to a structured format, which may extend in the case of group or peer supervision. The particular framework may differ depending on the academic orientation of both the supervisor and the supervisee, incorporating essential components such as:

1. Work management: Covering aspects like workload, objectives, planning, compulsory training, and professional development.
2. Discussion of clinical cases: Delving into the evaluation of interventions and exploration of psychological processes, both conscious and unconscious, such as transference and countertransference, impacting the therapy process.
3. Personal reflection: Providing space for introspection on mental and physical well-being within and beyond the workplace.
4. Consideration of personal circumstances: Exploring how the supervisee's individual circumstances may influence the therapeutic process and devising strategies to mitigate potential challenges.

The allocation of time for discussing each component may vary across sessions, with mutual agreement at the onset of supervision based on the supervisee's needs.

Categories of clinical supervision:

1. Individual: Conducted in a one-to-one setting between the supervisor and supervisee.
2. Group or peer supervision: Facilitated either by a supervisor or led by peers (without a supervisor present), allowing participants to learn from one another's experiences.
3. Internal: Supervision facilitated by a supervisor from within the organization.
4. External: Supervision led by a supervisor external to the organization, providing an objective perspective on therapeutic processes.
5. Distant: Remote supervision conducted via telephone or video calls.