Applying the Therapeutic Function of Professional Supervision: Attending to the Emotional Impacts of Human Service Work

Description

This book brings a fresh approach and conversation to the practice of professional supervision for human services by specifically articulating its often performed, but unnamed and under-explored therapeutic function. The discussion of the therapeutic function is timely given the rising complexities in our world, and the increasing awareness of emotional impacts of human service work. These impacts include stress, distress, emotional labour, indirect trauma, and direct trauma. Posing a challenge and invitation to supervisors to comfortably inhabit the therapeutic function of supervision to increase emotional support to workers, it places safe practice and worker wellbeing at the heart of supervision to enable high quality service delivery for often the most vulnerable in society. While underpinned by theory, it is written to be practically applied and is developed from a ‘lived experience’ perspective, offering a unique glimpse into actual practice. By modelling one of the main aims of professional supervision, which is to facilitate and enable the integration of experience into learning and knowledge, it will be of interest to all practitioners across a broad range of human services, particularly both new and experienced supervisors. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Foreword Introduction 1 Defining the Therapeutic Function of Supervision Types of Supervision Interdisciplinary Supervision Roles in Professional Supervision The Functions of Professional Supervision The Therapeutic and Therapy Boundary Ethical Considerations Summary 2 Relational Skills to Enable the Therapeutic Function Developing the Supervisory Relationship Presence Attuning Listening Deeply Enabling Vulnerability Cultural Humility Summary 3 Developing a Coherent Narrative Reflective Learning Processes Explore Inaccurate Thoughts Connect to Strengths and Existing Resiliency Moving Forward Summary 4 Working with Emotions Supervision as a Space for Emotional Containment Overwhelm Disappointment Anger Shame Anxiety Grief Summary 5 Working with Relational Dynamics Personality, Beliefs, and Values The use of Self-disclosure Counter-Transference and Parallel Process Transactional Analysis The Problem is the Problem not the Person Summary 6 Connecting to Compassion Defining Compassion Self-Awareness Emotional Regulation Anchor to Core Motivation Consciously Engage to Develop Acceptance, Understanding and Connection Self-Compassion and Self-Forgiveness Summary 7 Supporting Courage, Grit, and Resilience Defining Courage Questions to Connect Courage Grit Resilience Summary 8 Strengthening Holistic Wellbeing A Holistic model of Wellbeing Supporting the Parasympathetic Nervous System Building Mental Fitness Organisational Culture Supervisor Wellbeing Summary Conclusion Index