Counsellor Supervision

What does supervision mean in the context of counselling or therapy? In the interests of both clients and practitioners, most professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy require members to incorporate supervision into their clinical practice.

What is Counselling Supervision?

Working under supervision means that a therapist uses the services of another more experienced therapist to review their work with clients, their professional development and often their personal development as well.

CPT offers group as well as individual supervision.

Who Needs Supervision?

All counsellors and psychotherapists, regardless of experience, need supervision. Not only do most professional bodies in the UK such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy require supervision, but it is also an ethical imperative. A client who encounters a therapist working without supervision should probably consider carefully whether they wish to work with that therapist.

Why is Counselling Supervision Needed?

Supervision exists for two reasons:

To protect clients
To improve the ability of therapists to provide value to their clients

Supervision protects clients by involving an impartial third party in the work of a therapist and client, helping to reduce the risk of serious oversight and helping the therapist concerned to reflect on their own feelings, thoughts, behaviour and general approach with the client.

These opportunities to reflect also help the therapist to improve the value they are providing to their clients.

What Does Supervision Mean for Confidentiality?

Overall client confidentiality is safeguarded because:

Individually identifying information (such as full name) is not revealed
Information shared in supervision is itself protected under a contract of confidentiality

For any information, or enquiries about counselling supervision offered at CPT please contact us.