Clinical Supervision
The purpose of clinical supervision, as compared to line management supervision, is for the supervisor to help the supervisee become more effective in helping other persons ie the children in the case of Play Therapy. The role of a Clinical Supervisor is to provide support and advice upon issues that arise during the therapist’s clinical work. These may be matters of therapeutic techniques, therapeutic relationships, difficult problems, ethical decisions or issues that impact personally upon the therapist caused by the therapeutic process.
PTUK’s standards of supervision requirements are:
- Trainees – one hour of supervision for every six hours of clinical work with children, or fortnightly whichever is the shortest.
- Qualified practitioners – a minimum of one and a half hours supervision a month.
One of the main constraints upon the growth of therapeutic play and Play Therapy in the UK is the shortage of experienced Play Therapy supervisors. PTUK accredits Play Therapy Supervision training programmes and encourages experienced practitioners (at least 300 hours clinical practice) to develop their career in this direction. Sometimes practitioners will have to use supervisors who have experience of the therapeutic use of the creative/expressive arts or who have supervised counsellors of children.
Looking for a Supervisor?
Click here to find Certified Supervisors, Approved Supervisors, Trainee Supervisors, Specialist Sand Play Supervisors and Filial Coach Supervisors.
What Is Supervision?
Supervision has two main functions; it should be educative and supportive.
Education – To provide a regular space for the supervisee to reflect upon the content and process of the work. To develop understanding and skills within the work. To help relate theory to practice. To enable the supervisee to apply their approach appropriately to children at different developmental stages. To have an opportunity to think and develop ideas. Back to Top
Support – To be validated both as a person and a therapist. To plan and utilise the personal and professional resources of the supervisee To give constructive positive and critical feedback. To offer a space to reflect and clarify what is evoked by the work and explore our reactions to this experience. Ensure that the work is done in such a way that the supervisor can be accountable for the monitoring and quality of the work being done with the children. It is important to form a clear contract for every supervisory relationship, stating length of contract, responsibilities and fees.
Certified Supervisors
Certified Supervisors are those who have taken the APAC Supervisor course and are on the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists. They may see any members from trainees to accredited.
Trainee Supervisors
Trainee supervisors have done the APAC supervisor course but may only work with certificate and diploma course (in-training) play therapists and must do supervision face to face.
Approved Supervisors
Approved supervisors cannot work with trainees unless they have special permission from PTUK.
Specialist Sand Play Supervisors and Filial Coach Supervisors
You can also use the list below to search for “Specialist Sand Play Supervisors” and “Filial Coach Supervisors”
Skype
Use of Skype for supervision is only allowed by prior approval of CEO once all other options have been tried and may not be used with Certificate or diploma course students. There is a strict protocol which must be adhered to. Supervisors who offer Skype are marked in the Offers Skype column.
