ASSOCIATION FOR DANCE MOVEMENT PSYCHOTHERAPY UK (ADMP UK)
CLINICAL SUPERVISION GUIDELINES
1. Context with reference to other regulating and registering bodies.
1. 1.
ADMP is applying to become a member organisation of United Kingdom Council of
Psychotherapy (UKCP) and plans to become an accrediting body for UKCP member
registration. These current supervision guidelines will need to take heed of developments
within UKCP regarding supervision generally, as well as specifically within HIPC
(Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy College)
1. 2.
The general direction for professional regulation is toward voluntary registers with
the overarching accrediting body becoming the Professional Standards Authority for Health
and Social Care. The PSA oversees statutory bodies that regulate health and social care
professionals in the UK and monitors good governance. ADMP members and Council are
advised to be mindful of developments within PSA Health and Social Care
(www.professionalstandards.org.uk) concerning clinical supervision.
1. 3.
Previous plans to move towards state regulation through Health and Care Professions
Council (HCPC) may be superseded by UKCP membership and PSA kite marking in the
future.
1. 4.
ADMP UK standards will continue to be membership standards as outlined within
www.admp.org.uk to which members agree when they join their professional association.
2.
Introduction
2.1.
Clinical Supervision is a term that will be used throughout this document. It is also
known as Dance Movement Psychotherapy supervision, or non-managerial supervision. It
is an essential part of good practice for DMP. For the purposes of this document clinical
supervision is defined as ‘a formal, confidential and collaborative process in which two or
more professionals meet to discuss the clinical content and process of the supervisee’s
work’. It is an integral part of the ongoing process of psychotherapeutic work.
2.2.
It is important to be able to differentiate clinical supervision from line management
that has a different purpose. Training, personal development and personal therapy are also
different from clinical supervision, although there can be overlaps of some issues being
addressed.
2.3.
Regular clinical supervision is an essential and integral part of dance movement
psychotherapy practice. The ADMP's Code of Professional Practice states that Dance Movement Therapists (Psychotherapists) should be aware of the
limitations of their particular training and competence, and restrict their work
accordingly. Therapists have a responsibility to arrange adequate supervision
for all aspects of their work. In addition to this, specialist advice should be
sought where necessary. (See http://www.admp.org.uk/documents)
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2.4.
It is therefore important for ADMP UK to provide guidance about the aims, content
and frequency of such supervision, as well as advising on who is qualified to provide it.
2.5.
ADMP UK acknowledges that dance movement psychotherapists are a diverse group
of people, working across a wide variety of settings and circumstances. This document is
therefore given for reference and guidance only in order to equip members with sufficient
information to make informed choices and evaluations in respect of their supervision
provision.
ADMP UK recognises that members’ arrangements for clinical supervision will be
made according to a variety of factors including the supervisee's experience, work place
requirements and supervisor availability. DMPs are expected to evaluate the strengths and
limitations of their supervision arrangements and to ensure that any learning needs are
addressed, perhaps using other aspects of Continued Professional Development (CPD) to
support clinical supervision.
2.6.
2.7.
All dance movement psychotherapists have an individual professional responsibility
to assess their clinical supervision needs, in conjunction with managers / employers where
appropriate, and to ensure their practice meets ADMP standards.
2.1.
In addition once ADMP becomes an Organisational member of UKCP, members are
recommended to ensure they follow the relevant, up to date standards for supervision as
published by UKCP and HIPC (Humanistic, Integrative Psychotherapy College).
According to UKCP Supervision Policy 2013 the purposes of supervision are:
1. To underpin and promote reflective and informed practice (for example, by making
transparent the contract for, and mode of, work, and the assumptions that it
embodies)
2. As a result, to underpin and support best practice in a way that is beneficial to both
practitioners and service-users.
3. Clinical Supervision: format, aims and content
.
3.1
In most cases clinical supervision involves regular meetings between an experienced
supervisor and one or more supervisees, (i.e. individual / 1:1 clinical supervision or group
clinical supervision). It is either a provision arranged and financed by the workplace or is
purchased privately, by the supervisee, for a pre-arranged fee.
3.2
Group supervision has the advantage that supervisees may learn through the rich
variety of experiences of their peers, and may enable some practitioners to attend more
frequently, as it may be less expensive than individual supervision. It is recommended,
however, that each supervisee, especially those who have not yet completed the equivalent
of 3 years post qualifying full time practice discuss with their supervisor whether they may
need in addition individual supervision to cover their client work adequately.
3.3
Peer clinical supervision involves two or more therapists of similar experience
meeting as equals to discuss their clinical work. This is still a formal arrangement, with
appropriate boundaries, but does not involve payment. Peer supervision is not suitable as
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the only clinical supervision of inexperienced therapists (including all those who have not
yet completed the equivalent of 3 years post qualifying full time practice).
3.4
Clinical supervision involves verbal discussion and often the use of movement or
other non-verbal communications (e.g. other art forms or video). It is essential to protect
the confidentiality of clients discussed and this is especially important to remember in
group supervision and when video recordings are used. When establishing a contract for
supervision, supervisors and supervisees will agree together how best to maintain the
confidentiality of clients and of the supervisory work, (i.e. the need for confidentiality of
the supervisees’ process in supervision).
3.5
The principle aim of supervision is to support practitioners in developing their
reflective practice within an ethical framework. This is parallel to CPD that is a separate
requirement for the practitioner and falls under a different guideline, (see Criteria for
Registration, section 8, CPD). The supervisee remains responsible and accountable for
his/her clinical work. The supervisor is expected to bear in mind the interests of the clients
throughout the supervision process.
3.6
Further aims of clinical supervision may include:
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ensuring that the needs of the client are being considered
monitoring the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions
providing elements of education/learning to develop technique
integrating theoretical knowledge
guiding and encouraging supervisees in critical reflection and self-regulation
constructively confronting any unhelpful patterns of thinking or responding.
3.7
Clinical supervision may include discussion and analysis of the non-verbal and
verbal, the emotional/psychological world of the client including conscious and
unconscious processes, the relationships between the client and the therapist or in the case
of group work, between client and other clients.
3.8
Clinical supervision may also include exploration of the dynamic between the
supervisee and the supervisor (and in group supervision also between group members)
where this reflects or parallels aspects of the clinical work, and between the supervision
process and the organisational / clinical context of the work.
3.9
Clinical supervision is expected to provide a secure context within which personal or
work pressures on a therapist can be recognised and discussed. For example such issues
might include: pregnancy, a period of ill health, bereavement, family difficulties or moving
home. Supervision can provide an important space to think about the way in which these
personal events in a therapist's life can impact upon the therapeutic work and to identify
times when the therapist needs extra support. As an environment of trust is core to
developing a sense of containment, it is important to remember that trust is a two-way
process within the supervisory relationship.
3.10
Other forms of therapeutic communication with or about clients (letters, telephone
calls, e-mails) may also be appropriate material for clinical supervision. As integral
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components of the therapeutic transaction, these need to be considered with as much care as
DMP session material.
4. Who can provide clinical supervision for Dance Movement Psychotherapists?
WITHIN TRAINING PROGRAMMES:
4.1.
It is a requirement for ADMP accredited trainings that at least one of the clinical
supervisors is on the ADMP Register of Clinical Supervisors. Advanced practitioners in
the process of gaining their ADMP supervisory license also may supervise.
4.2.
Currently those listed on the Clinical Supervisor Register on the ADMP UK
website are eligible to supervise in training institutions, clinical settings and privately.
Please note the ADMP document on ‘Definitions of the different types of supervision
experienced in training’ (http://www.admp.org.uk/documents/)
WITHIN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE INSTITUTIONS:
4.3.
In addition RDMP level practitioners who have supervisory duties as part of their
written contract within their workplace are eligible to supervise official DMP or arts
therapies trainees who are on placement and who also have clinical supervision within
their training programme. These RDMP will do so in-house within their level and area of
competence and experience within that institution.
AS PRIVATE PRACTICE SUPERVISION:
4.4.
In addition those eligible to supervise outside the context of an institutional setting,
or in private practice are those RDMP who are undertaking an approved supervisor’s
training programme and have their own supervision for both their client work and
supervisory work.
4.5.
A suitable clinical supervisor will normally be a DMP Registered Supervisor or a
senior practitioner in a related discipline, e.g. other regulated arts therapies. They should
be familiar with the concept of clinical supervision as it is understood and practised within
the arts therapies, and other psychological therapies, and be competent to provide
supervision within the definition and aims given within this document (3.1 – 3.10). It is
important that the supervisor and supervisee openly discuss the psychological orientations
informing their work and that the supervisor agrees whether there is a good enough fit
between their approaches to benefit the clients. Supervisors should also have access to
clinical supervision themselves
4.6.
When it is not feasible for reasons of availability / location, to have regular
supervision from a DMP registered clinical supervisor, other possibilities may be
considered. It is crucial that the supervisee check whether the alternative supervisor is
registered /accepted/ credentialed as capable to supervise within his/her own
field/approach (i.e. United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), the British
Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), British Psychotherapy
Council(BPC), Body Psychotherapy, Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland
(COSCA) or the equivalent professional association for art, drama, or music therapy BAAT, BADth, BAMT respectively).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
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4.7.
Where therapists receive their regular clinical supervision from a practitioner who is
not a dance movement psychotherapist, they should be mindful of the requirement to meet
'profession specific' standards of practice via other CPD experiences (see
/www.adpt.org.uk/documents)
4.8.
A clinical supervisor should be familiar with the clinical field the therapist is working
in, and be aware of any statutory / legal issues pertaining to the client group and / or the
setting of the clinical work.
4.9.
A supervisor may work within the same institution as the supervisee (providing there
is no conflicting role relationship between them) or may be an external professional paid
by that institution to conduct individual or group supervision sessions. Alternatively a
supervisor may be consulted privately.
4.10.
Clinical supervision does not necessarily imply a hierarchical relationship in terms of
status, grading, or managerial responsibilities. A clinical supervisor is likely to be a more
experienced practitioner but, in the case of therapists who are themselves experienced, a
suitable supervisor may be a practitioner of similar grading / status who has skills and
training in supervision. More senior DMP’s may wish to consult a supervisor who is not a
DMP, yet who may offer specialist expertise in an area in which the practitioners needs
further development, e.g. forensic psychotherapy / psychiatry.
4.11.
It is strongly recommended that supervision is regular and face-to-face. However,
there might be a situation when a DMP may prefer to seek on-going clinical supervision
via regular Skype or telephone contact with an experienced DMP Registered Supervisor,
rather than with a professional from another field. This would ONLY be appropriate after
a period of face to face supervision with the DMP supervisor, which includes an
assessment of the suitability of this type of supervision for this particular supervisee.
There would need to be a contracted arrangement for face to face contact at least once a
year. Meticulous attention to confidentiality issues would need to be addressed.
5. Frequency of clinical supervision
5.1.
The frequency of clinical supervision needs to be decided between supervisor and
supervisee according to the volume of clinical work, the complexity of the work, the
experience of the supervisee, the workplace requirements and any especially stressful
circumstances.
5.2.
It is strongly recommended that in the first 3 years post qualification practicing
therapists receive regular sessions equivalent to no less than one hour of individual DMP
clinical supervision per month (even if also in group supervision) however few their clients /
sessions. This enables supervisor and supervisee to establish their working relationship and
helps ensure that supervision remains a coherent and productive process. This minimum
standard will not, however, be sufficient for most practising DMPs, who will need weekly or
twice monthly supervision.
5.3.
Hours of client contact can be helpful in calculating supervisory needs but the
volume of work needs to be considered with regard to a number of other issues. One of
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these is whether the supervisee is providing individual and group therapy. Although group
work is usually approached by looking at the group dynamics as a whole, it does involve
responsibility for a number of clients whose individual needs must also be considered and
may, therefore, need more supervision time than for 1:1 client work.
5.4.
The context for clinical work may also affect the amount of supervision needed.
Working within a supportive and well functioning team, who regularly discuss clients in
some depth, can sometimes reduce the supervision needs of an individual therapist.
Conversely, difficult team relationships may well need to be explored in clinical supervision
in order to support the therapeutic work.
5.5.
Private practice or taking full responsibility for working at depth with clients on
one's own, as the primary therapist will need to be well supported by clinical supervision. In
situations where a client is vulnerable, presents risk to themselves or to other people or
where other complex issues exist the therapist should discuss with the supervisor how much
supervision would be adequate.
5.6.
It is the responsibility of the clinical supervisor within their contract with the
supervisee to negotiate the adequate amount of supervision needed, identifying with the
supervisee where and how else, the supervisee can get support. While it is not recommended
that practitioners have more than one supervisor at a time, this situation might arise if
specific needs were identified. In these cases it is important for all parties to know what
kind of support is being offered by whom in order to ensure there are no conflicts of interest
or confusion for the supervisee, and the best interests of the clients are central.
6.
Contracting for Supervision
It is recommended that the supervisor and supervisee establish either in writing or verbally
basic contractual arrangements at the beginning of their supervisory relationship and
reviewed at regular intervals. These arrangements will include such issues as:
 Establishing that both supervisor and supervisee have appropriate qualifications,
o registrations, and insurance
 The fee and arrangement for absences
 Regularity and amount of supervision following a review of supervisee’s experience and
needs (taking into account the recommendations within this document)
 Confidentiality of clinical and supervisory work
 Matching ways of working and approaches within supervision to supervisee’s needs
 Number of supervisors: if therapist has more than one supervisor, clarify how this will work
in the best service of the clients.
Initial draft (2009) by Senior DMPs: Prof. H Payne, S. Holden, P. Best
(Revised 18.5.14)
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Suggesting readings for DMP supervisors
Best, P (1999). Improvised narratives: dancing between client and therapist, e-motion, XI.4 17 – 26
---- (2010) Observing interactions being shaped: multiple perspectives within supervision. Bender, S. (Ed.)
Movement Analysis of Interaction. Berlin gmbH: Logoa Verlag
Calisch, A. (1989) ‘Eclectic blending of theory in the supervision of art psychotherapists’, The Arts in
Psychotherapy, 16: 37-43.
Campbell, D. & B. Mason (Eds). Perspectives on Supervision. London: Karnac.
Carroll, M. and Tholstrup, M. (Eds). (2001). Integrative Approaches to Supervision. London: Jessica
Kingsley.
Clarke, I. (2001). Supervision in dance/movement therapy. E-motion, 13.3, pp.3-5.
Chesna, A. & Zografou, L. (2013) Creative Supervision Across Modalities: Theory and applications for
therapists, counsellors and other helping professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley
Edwards, D. (1993). ‘Learning about feelings: The role of supervision in art therapy training’, The Arts in
Psychotherapy, 20, pp.213-222.
Frizell, C. (2012) Embodiment and the supervisory task: The supervision of dance movement
psychotherapists in training. Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy, 7.4:293-304
Gilbert, M. & Evans, K. (2000). Psychotherapy Supervision: An Integrative Relational Approach to
Psychotherapy Supervision, Buckingham: Open University Press.
Hawkins, P. and Shohet, R. (2012) (4th Ed.) Supervision in the helping professions: An individual,
organisational and group approach. Buckingham: Open University Press
Jones, P. & Dokkter, D. (2008). Supervision of Dramatherapy. London: Routledge.
Lahad, M. (2000). Creative Supervision: The Use of Expressive Arts Methods in Supervision and SelfSupervision, London: Jessica Kingsley.
Lett, W. (1993). ‘Therapist creativity: the arts of supervision’, The Arts in Psychotherapy, 20: 371-386.
ADMP UK Clinical Supervision Guidelines June 2014
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Meekums, B. (2007) Spontaneous symbolism in clinical supervision: moving beyond logic, Body, Movement
and Dance in Psychotherapy, 2(2), 1743-2979
O’Dell-Miller, H. & Richard, E. (2009).
Supervision of Music Therapy: A theoretical and practical
handbook. London: Routledge.
Panhofer, H, Payne, H, Meekums, B. & Parke, T. (2013) Dancing, moving and writing in clinical
supervision? Employing embodied practices in psychotherapy supervision. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 38
(1), 9-16
Payne H. (ed.) (2008). Supervision in Dance Movement Psychotherapy. London: Routledge.
Ryan, S. (2004). Vital Practice: Stories for the healing arts: the homeopathic and supervisory way. Portland,
Dorset: SeaChange.
Scarth, S. (1995). Supervision on the move. ADMP.UK Newsletter, 7.2, pp.12
Shavarien, J. & Case, C. (2007). Supervision in Art Psychotherapy. London: Routledge.
Shohet, R. (2011) Supervision as Transformation: A passion for learning. London: Routledge
Tselikas-Portmann, E. (ed.) (1999.) Supervision and Dramatherapy, London: Jessica Kingsley.
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