Supervision for Complementary Health Practitioners

01935 825869 j.forssander@therapynetworkonline

Most complementary practitioners consider on-going training an important part of their work, and in recent years supervision has become an essential part of that training. Instead of trying to work with clients and their problems entirely alone, the therapist enlists a supervisor to bring a new perspective, or a new pair of eyes to any problems. Sometimes when working with a client you just can't put your finger on ‘the problem'. This is where a supervisor helps by bringing different skills and knowledge to the situation, helping the therapist to see the client from a different viewpoint. All information of course remains completely confidential, but the result of that extra input often moves a person's healing swiftly onto another level.

Most complementary health practitioners base their working philosophy on the link between physical symptoms, however caused, and something being stuck in their patients' lives. The purpose of treatment, which is inevitably contained within the patient/practitioner relationship, is to discover what thoughts and feelings might be blocking the healthy and creative flow of energy, and what might help release it.

Supervision can act as a space for reflection between practitioner and supervisor who each bring their respective viewpoints and experience to the issues of the patient. In this way, it may be possible to look beyond the more obvious causes of suffering, and explore unconscious processes. While we may often think of blocks being created by existing situations, there are times when the patient is being challenged by life to develop and move forward. In either case, pain simply communicates the presence of painful anxieties.

The Therapy Network is lucky to have their own Supervisor in Jennifer Forssander. Jennifer works as a counsellor, psychotherapist and supervisor with many years experience of listening to and engaging with others. Before becoming involved with the talking therapies, she worked as a Herbalist and Shiatsu practitioner. She firmly believes in the links between the mental, emotional and physical elements of the individual and how the interaction between them can become tired or in need of disentangling. As a supervisor, she provides a supportive and reflective environment which benefits both the healing of the client, and the further development of the practitioner.  Practitioners do not need to be Therapy Network members to avail themselves of this service.  

Jennifer Forssander practices in Kingsbury Episcopi and can be contacted either through the website or directly on 01935 825869.