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September 24, 2008
Further thoughts...
Further thoughts from Passionate Supervision...
"What aspects of your supervision do you find it most difficult to contract around? How do you use professional boundaries to protect yourself from having to explore and possibly change these?" (David Owen).
What continues to intrigue me in working as a supervisor, is the need for and significance of the high level of trust and confidence in the relationship from and between both of us.
I realise that it can be a delicate balance to support and be present on the one hand, and at the same time acknowledge my own limitations or enjoyment as a fellow practitioner. Here are two areas that I notice can emerge during supervision.
The first is when I think that we are moving into an area where they may be better served with therapy, as I am not a qualified psychotherapist. I believe that it is imperative to share and discuss this with a supervisee. At the same time, there is the potential for my declaration to appear to undermine their confidence in me. I am acting in what I believe are their best interests. So, how do I contain their anxiety that they themselves may not be able to cope if I'm not there to contain their vulnerability? So, I continue to reflect on how best to acknowledge and share my limitations. I am concerned for my clients' well-being. At the same time, I wonder whether there may be the possibility that in suggesting an alternative/additional practitioner, that I may be shattering some idealisation they may have of me.
Many of my clients are involved in both coaching and OD projects within the one client organisation. Another predicament that I have found myself in is when I may become over-exuberant or express my personal enthusiasm for this type of work, when we explore possible interventions. This can potentially undermine their self-confidence. So, I need to be mindful of when and how I might share my enjoyment of this particular work.
Posted by Alison at September 24, 2008 03:27 PM
