Supervision is increasingly named as a specific competency in professional practice, but active formation of supervisors is relatively rare after graduation. This presentation aims to offer further education and insight for supervisors by discussing relational supervision practices that are supported by research and consistent with a Catholic view of the person. We explore how supervision can include transformational experiences like admitting mistakes, addressing power dynamics, willingness to suffer, risking vulnerability, giving difficult feedback, and attending to culture, identity, and differences in the supervision relationship. Moreover, we consider and reflect on how those characteristics arise from our Catholic identity. We will offer examples from our own practice, elicit the experiences of participants, and prompt sharing of the unique ways that you have benefitted from these approaches and can continue to strengthen your practice as a supervisor.

Target Audience: Supervisors and trainees across mental health professions

Course Content Level: Intermediate 

Learning Objectives

• Describe three research findings that support a relational approach to supervision,
• Discuss multiple beneficial practices used in relational supervision and describe their fit within a Catholic worldview
• Create multiple ways to enrich their supervision practice by incorporating relational principles

This program does not qualify for NBCC credits