Adventure Therapy and Supervision – Fighting Burnout – Emotional First

Aid for PractitionersPart C

Dr. Stephan Natynczuk And

Dr. Elspeth Schwenk

Solution FocussedSupervisionCreates a collaborative professional Partnership to develop the supervisee intheir 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 FocusedSupervision 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 vswhat 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 areNewbeginnings

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, materialConsider 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 development

• How can supervision assist in our work in adventure therapy?

• In what way could it contribute to & be an essential ingredient of best practice?

• What are essential ingredients within supervision?• What does an effective model of supervision need

to include?• I need adventure therapy supervision to offer me:

Adventure Therapy is shrouded in challenge & new experience. For the practitioner, it is important to give sufficient time toreflect on what has happened –catch up with the experience and discuss new learning within the journey, & let go of any stress that 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.