QCA - Queensland Counsellors Association

What is Supervision of Counselling?

QCA has been at the forefront of developing counselling supervision policy because supervision is so central to ethical practice.

Because of the responsibilities and ethics involved, the supervisory relationship is always a formal one, even when supervision is in peer groups. Accordingly, it is a requirement of membership for QCA that counsellors receive supervision, and that the goals and nature of the supervision are clearly established in the form of a supervision contract and that some kind of record is kept of supervision hours.

QCA recognises three forms of supervision - individual, group and peer supervision.  Peer group supervision and group supervision are not to be seen as a substitute for individual supervision.  As a guide annual supervision hours should be comprised of approximately sixty per cent individual supervision and forty per cent peer and/or group supervision.

For those seeking appropriately qualified QCA Clinical Members for individual supervision, use the search tool to find a supervisor.

Peer group supervision takes place when three or more experienced counsellors and/or Clinical Members share the responsibility for providing each others' supervision within a group context.  Typically members will consider themselves to be of broadly equal status, training and/or experience.

Group supervision with an identified qualified supervisor(s) takes a variety of forms.  For example, at one end of the spectrum the supervisor, acting as a leader, will take responsibility for apportioning the time between the counsellors present and then concentrate on the work of individuals in turn.  At the other end of the spectrum counsellors may allocate supervision time between themselves and use the supervisor as a technical resource.

There is an expectation that supervision contracts are developed by members participating in both peer supervision groups and group supervision.  Groups should also develop and agree on boundaries around professional conduct, communication and case discussions, etc.

Confidentiality is an accepted principle of counselling. Consequently it can be emotionally intense, and may impinge in unexpected ways on the counsellor’s own issues. Counsellors are vulnerable to compassion fatigue and burnout. For these and other reasons such as support for professional development, accountability and personal and client safety, it is essential that counsellors are in a formal supervisory relationship.

Counselling supervision is different from line management. It is neither therapy nor training for the counsellor, although within limits, both may be present. It is primarily a professional exchange designed to support the counsellor’s emotional wellbeing and encourage ongoing professional development. It supports clients indirectly through highlighting counsellor awareness of ethics; it builds new possibilities for practice by providing a forum for the discussion of what is otherwise confidential material.

Supervision is often seen as developmental, focussing on an agreement about the goals of the counsellor at a particular stage of professional development. It is often provided by a senior colleague.

The relationship is likely to become more that of peer exchange with developing professional maturity. Nevertheless, supervisors have a particular responsibility for the client as well as the counsellor.

QCA Supervision Contract

Peer Supervision Toolkit