Clinical Supervision
Clinical Supervision is an essential professional requirement for social workers and is also valuable for other professionals working with mental health i.e. lawyers. In one:one or group sessions, supervisees are supported to reflect on their work with clients & refine practice knowledge and communication skills through case discussion. Trauma informed supervision provides a safe and supportive environment to debrief, receive emotional support, reflect on challenges, increase awareness and develop practice skills to improve client care.
Individual Supervision
Individual supervision is tailored to your stage of career, from new graduates to experienced professionals and leaders. We work together to identify and help you build on your unique strengths and address your specific needs for professional development. Individual supervision is available online or in person in Sydney organisations.
See FAQ: What do I talk about in clinical supervision
Get in touch to discuss your clinical supervision needs.
Group Supervision
Group supervision provides the opportunity to discuss client cases with peers and to draw on the collective wisdom of the group or team. In a facilitated group, participants present client cases, discuss themes, normalise work experiences and learn from each other. Group supervision is available online or in Sydney organisations.
See FAQ: Benefits of group supervision and trauma informed group practice strategies.
Contact me to establish group supervision for your agency.
Benefits of Supervision
- Sustainable work practices that prevent burnout.
- Improved well-being and self-care strategies.
- Secondary client consultation
- Clarity in professional identity and career direction.
- Better client outcomes and communication
- Increased confidence and practice skills.
- Increased knowledge about client presentations.
- Greater ability to reflect on your work.
“Melinda is an exceptional social work supervisor who combines her expertise with support and understanding. Melinda’s strengths are her ability to listen, and provide thoughtful, intelligent, and inspiring guidance. She also offers clarity when navigating challenging work experiences. Her extensive experience across diverse social work environments enriches her supervision, allowing her to draw on a wealth of knowledge to support my growth.” — Angela J, Senior Social Worker, Cabrini Health.
Who Can Benefit from Trauma Informed Supervision
- Social Work clinicians and caseworkers
- Social workers achieving mental health social work accreditation
- Clinical supervisors
- Lawyers
- Leaders
- Other social service professionals including community development workers, welfare workers
Reach Out to gain confidence in your practice.
“Thank you for the group supervision that you provided. I found it to be a stimulating way of reflecting on my work and practice while also devising practical strategies and solutions for issues that arose. The balance of individual and group supervision was an ideal way to learn from the experiences of my colleagues while incorporating those learnings into my ways of working“. – John, Social Worker, Red Cross
My Approach
Every person brings unique skills and work and life experiences to supervision. Using a person-centred, collaborative approach, I recognise the expertise you already hold, help you reflect on client work and coach you through challenges. Together, we identify your strengths, set supervision goals based on your needs, & periodically review them. I help you develop knowledge & skills to provide the best service for your clients & support your professional growth.
The principles guiding supervision
- Reflective practice
- Trauma-informed
- Solutions Focused Coaching
- Confidentiality
- Open communication
- Psychologically and culturally safe, supportive environment
- Tailoring supervision to your experience level
- Resource sharing
- Ongoing evaluation of our work together
My Theoretical Framework
By drawing on a range of clinical models that I have trained and worked in over the past 3 decades, I offer an eclectic approach to supervision & counselling. This includes systemic relationship therapy, schema therapy, EMDR, ACT, trauma informed practice and mindfulness as well as concepts from coaching, CBT & psychodynamics.
Setting Up External Supervision
Contact me now for a 15-minute initial phone consultation. This gives us a chance to discuss your professional needs & expectations & determine if I am the right fit for you.
To schedule a call or to make an appointment, please click here to contact me or email melinda@melindaausten.com.au.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between clinical supervision and supervision from my manager?
Clinical supervision focuses on critical reflection and skills development, while the main function of line- management supervision by your manager is administration and quality assurance. External clinical supervision allows supervisees the space to speak confidentially about areas that they may be struggling with in their work.
Is clinical supervision like counselling?
Clinical supervision is not counselling, although it is a supportive space and may involve debriefing, especially when working with traumatised clients. It is my role to support and guide you through any rough patches in your work and also to ensure that our sessions stay focused on your professional goals and development. Employee Assistance Programs can work well alongside clinical supervision if you need additional personal support.
What do I talk about in clinical supervision?
Each session is different. Every supervisee is unique and will use supervision in different ways. Some people bring an agenda with topics to discuss, others come with a general idea of something they want to explore in both individual and group supervision. This could include:
- client communication issues.
- complex cases.
- the client population.
- common theme/s that keeps arising.
- organisational issues.
- debriefing about a distressing situation.
- trauma-informed practice concepts.
- work-life balance.
- managing workload pressures and time management.
- questions about the impact of trauma or mental health on yourself.
- subject matter expertise topics in mental health and trauma.
- mental health case discussion.
What are the benefits of GROUP SUPERVISION ?
Discussing client cases as a group allows participants to seek multiple points of view and hear how their peers practice and normalise common experiences. In a safe, open and confidential environment, participants build collective knowledge and team support. Group supervision and individual supervision are often offered together.
External group supervision supports managers by:
- creating time for reflection on specific cases and issues and frees up line managers to focus on administration and quality control in task management supervision.
- assisting participants to develop reflective skills that improve clinical and casework skills.
- helping participants focus on responding thoughtfully to client issues, drawing out differences between reaction and response, which creates a greater sense of containment.
- providing informal debriefing to explore personal reactions to complex issues, which enhances wellbeing and increases longevity and sustainability in the field and reduces the likelihood of burnout, leading to EAP, Workcover or staff turnover.
- building team communication and cohesion.
- providing elements of professional development through psychoeducation, related to specific client cases, and sharing of the team’s expertise and knowledge.
- providing cross communication within a transparent framework that all participants agree to.
What is the clinical supervision process?
Supervision sessions are typically scheduled every four weeks, and I offer a regular day and time to ensure consistency. Individual supervision sessions are 55 mins. Group sessions are 90m. I work with people across Australia, offering online sessions, but can provide in-person sessions for organisations in Sydney.
What can I expect in my first supervision session?
In your first individual supervision session, we’ll explore what brought you to supervision, your professional background that informs your work approach as well as your strengths, competencies, and areas for development to determine what you would like to achieve through ongoing supervision sessions.
Do you provide clinical supervision for managers?
I provide monthly leadership supervision (in the same monthly format as clinical supervision) where you are able to also discuss your own or staff members’ clinical issues as well as leadership and organisational issues.
Can you support me through the mental health accreditation process?
Yes, I have supervised social workers working through the mental health accreditation process. I provide a place to talk through cases, provide guidance on where your work fits with focused psychological strategies and sign off on your final supervision document but do not provide specific advice on the AASW process.
Can supervision help me establish my private practice?
Clinical supervision involves discussion of clinical and professional practice issues. I provide workplace coaching to support mental health practitioners establishing their private practice. This provides support and motivation to reflect on your specific business goal/s ideas and to develop your own strategies for business development. I don’t provide business advice but may suggest some helpful resources.
What are the fees?
Individual and group supervision fees align with the AASW recommended fee schedule and are reviewed annually. Discounts are available for private fee-paying supervisees.