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I recently heard someone describe Coaching Supervision as ‘washing the widows of your practice’ so you can see yourself and your coaching client more clearly. I like that. It reminds me of the work of some 12-Step processes where we recognise we can do nothing to change the other person but we can ‘keep our side of the street clean’.
It’s also a space where you can get really curious about how you coach, why you make the interventions you do, what else is happening that’s unspoken that will be at play, what influence the wider context might be having. Where it’s safe enough for you to bring your vulnerabilities and mistakes too.
Supervision is a wonderful way to stand back from your coaching practice – perhaps further out, or higher up, and with another pair of eyes and set of senses alongside you – and see what you can see from that vantage point. From there, what do you see or sense about you as a coach, your client(s), a particular issue or difficult situation, and the wider relationship you have with your coaching clients?
Generally, as a supervisee you might bring a client or an issue you feel a bit stuck with, or where there is a repeating pattern you can’t quite get a handle on. Where there’s something you feel you’re not quite understanding, or are feeling puzzled by with regard to a particular client or client situation.
But you might also bring yourself – why do I so often feel like x with clients? How is it that I find myself in x situation again? It’s often said ‘we coach from our autobiography’ and so supervision allows space to explore that.
During a session, depending on the issue and your own preferences for working we might:
– work with spatial mapping or ritual work from systemic constellations
– utilise creative writing bursts or work with drawing or ‘found objects’ as metaphors
– used closed eye visualisations
– draw on ‘parts work’ for our internal family system
– tune into the body and our somatic responses
Testimonials
Two current supervisees have said:
‘I’ve had many supervisors and, more than others, Helena has helped me unpack and navigate a variety of different and difficult challenges that my coaching clients have gifted me. Helena offers a calm, wise approach to supervision that, often with the lightest and deftest of touches, transforms my perspective and helps me become a more effective coach for my clients.’
‘I truly look forward to my supervision sessions with Helena. She instantly creates a space where I feel comfortable to explore all of me and my coaching practice. In our sessions, Helena compassionately helps me to reflect on my coaching from different perspectives, while also supporting me with what I need. I always walk away from our sessions with a new perspective, but more importantly, feeling rejuvenated and with renewed energy to keep showing up for my clients and to keep doing the work I love.’
Practicals
Typically, you’d probably work with me monthly, and over a period of time so that we can spot patterns and themes in your coaching practice. And for either 60 or 90 mins according to your preference.
My background
Alongside 25 years of working in leadership and OD, as a coach and a facilitator, I have a Certificate in Supervision with Robin Shohet of CSTD London, and a Certificate in Supervision for Coaching and Consultancy from the Tavistock Institute.
My lenses are both psychological and systemic – with additional training in Shadow Work and Systemic Constellations – in the belief that we sometimes need to go right in and sometimes come right out to find the clues and threads that can helps us in our work.