Adventure Therapy and Supervision
– Fighting Burnout – Emotional First
Aid for Practitioners
Part C
Dr. Stephan Natynczuk
And
Dr. Elspeth Schwenk
Solution Focussed
Supervision
Creates a collaborative professional
Partnership to develop the supervisee in
their work, using solution-focused tools:
• eliciting strengths and resources
• developing the supervisee's preferred future or outcome
• taking a ‘not-knowing’ position and asking appropriate questions
• using scales to measure and develop progress
• remembering to notice positive movement in small practical steps
• offering appropriate, evidenced compliments
• staying curious, respectful and adapting to the other's pace.
C. Waskett
Aims
of Solution Focused
Supervision include:
•Identify solutions to problems
•Increase understanding
of professional issues;
•Improve standards of client
care
•Develop skills & knowledge
•Enhance the practitioner's
understanding of his/her
practice.
A solution
focussed
walk….
What was happening for me, the practitioner
vs
what was happening for me, the participant!
As the scenery
changes I don’t
know where I
am going, and
what will be
expected of
me….
Can I keep up?
What is coming
next?
What happens
if…?
A unknown
entrance…
Reveals
unknown
fears and
unexpected
delights…..
Exploring my
sense of
safety…..
Managing risk…..
Managing
different levels
of comfort….
We all hold onto something
in life…
We all have history….
Trust: I have no idea where we are….
Endings are
New
beginnings
What to take to supervision…
Positive questions encourage the supervisee to
develop self-affirmative feedback (Fowler et al,
2007):




So what did it take to do that?
What helped you to achieve that?
How did you do that?
How did you get through that
time/experience/deal with that difficulty?
 What did you learn about yourself managing to do
that?
 What do you think that that might have taught
others about you?
What to bring, & how to prepare for Supervision:
 Identify what you want to get out of the session
• Why am I bringing this issue or client or situation?
• What went well – what am I proud of?
• What do I need to explore?
 Focus on the key aspects of the client work rather than
just a lengthy story
 Be open about your own feelings, actions, material
 Consider practitioner & client stage of development
 What would help me do my job better – i.e. what
training/developmental needs do I have at this point?
Solution Focused
Supervision tools:
•
•
•
•
•
The use of scales;
Focused questions;
Looking for exceptions;
Constructive feedback;
Follow-up tasks.
Exercise:
• Think of your work over the last few weeks
• Share something you are particularly pleased about in
your practice
• How would your clients know that you were at your
best?
• In a difficult situation what did you do to stop things
from getting worse?
• In that situation, what were you particularly pleased
about?
• What will you take away with you and do more of?
Feedback
Supervision enables us to
Manage the unexpected!
Let go of the baggage!
Supervision:
What are you left with?
What is your learning going forward?
Exercise: Action Research!
Supervision
model isdevelopment
Adventure Therapy
shrouded in
• challenge
How can supervision
assist in our work
& new experience.
Forin
adventure
therapy?
the practitioner, it is important to
• In what way could it contribute to & be an
give
sufficient
time
to practice?
essential
ingredient
of best
onessential
what has
happened
• reflect
What are
ingredients
within–
supervision?
catch
up with the experience and
• discuss
What does
an effective
of supervision
new
learningmodel
within
the
need
to
include?
journey, & let go of any stress that
• I need adventure therapy supervision to offer me:
has developed along the way.
Bibliography
Carroll, M. (1996) Counselling Supervision: theory, Skills & Practice. Cassell. London.
Inskipp, F. & Proctor, B. (1994) Making the Most of Supervision. Cascade: London.
Hartley, M. (2003) Stress At Work. Sheldon Press, London.
Hawkins, P. & Shohet, R. (2006) Supervision in the Helping Professions. OUP: Milton
Keynes.
Natynczuk, S. & Schwenk, E. (2012) Adventure Therapy and Supervision (unpublished)
Page, S. & Woskett, V. (1994) Supervising the Counsellor. Routledge: London.
Stoltenberg, C. D. & Delworth, U. (1987) Supervising Counsellors & Therapists: A
Developmental Approach. Jossey Bass: San Francisco.
Wheeler, S. & King, D. (Ed) (2001) Supervising Counsellors – Issues of Responsibility.
SAGE Publications: London.