What makes Supervision Good?

By Joan Wright Howie

Supervision is really good when the supervisory relationship creates a safe holding space where hidden dynamics in relation to supervisee’s work context come to the surface and can be explored. When a supervisee becomes aware of their reactions and responses, they grow in freedom. With freedom, people function with increased grace and ease in their work. There can be a greater sense of clarity of purpose and alignment. Wise and informed choices can be made: to stay or move, act or be still, hold firm or adapt. 

The key word here is relationship. Indeed, supervision is all about the working alliance developed between supervisor and their supervisees. As a supervisor, you can have read all the books and know about models and patterns in supervision conversation, but if the relationship does not feel safe for your supervisee, there will be resistance.

Alongside the focus on the supervisee’s experiences in their work context, it’s essential to develop advanced empathy and immediacy in your presence with them. The supervisor’s capacity to offer empathy and encouragement to the supervisee is a key. This is often referred to as having unconditional positive regard for the person you’re working with.

Foster your capacity for unconditional positive regard by trying this exercise:

Write a list of your supervisees and take it with you to a quiet place where you can sit uninterrupted for a while.  Cup your hands in your lap, palms up. Notice your breathing and take three long slow breaths. Imagine your breath filling the palms of your cupped hands. You might like to close your eyes. Imagine, in turn, each of your supervisees being held in your hands. As you breath in, imagine them in their work context. What do they look like, what might they be doing? As you breath out, send them your support, love, care, encouragement. Notice what you sense in yourself in relation to this person. Repeat this imaginative exercise with each of your supervisees.