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

Ai ms 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 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 to reflect 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.