Counselling supervision and the production of professional selves

Abstract

The culture of supervision is produced both in wider professional contexts and in particular local supervision conversations. This paper is shaped by the post structuralist ideas of governmentality and disciplinary power. It uses these ideas to trace the detail of a supervision conversation, noticing the shaping effects of ideas familiar within the professional culture. Excerpts from the supervision conversation demonstrate a supervision process that pays attention to the politics of its own production, and thus to the culture of supervision that it produces.

Support and self-care: professional reflections of six New Zealand high school counsellors

“…Accounts clearly pointed to the advantages experienced by those working as part of a counselling team with a substantive presence within the school, and/or with highly supportive senior administrative staff. Consistent with current developments in New Zealand and elsewhere (Crocket, 2007;Grant & Schofield, 2007) it was equally clear that ongoing supervision was seen as an indispensable support resource, with the women particularly describing the importance of taking a proactive stance towards maximising benefits to be derived from these interactions and having little difficulty acknowledging that 'counsellors need counsellors too'. Possibly the latter may be an appreciation that comes particularly readily to counsellors embracing a narrative approach, which encourages externalisation of problems; more generally, Furr and Carroll (2003) suggest that experience during training of taking the 'client' role may be a way of discouraging counsellors from internalising help-seeking as a deficit positioning.…”

“…Crocket, 2007;Monk, Winslade, Crocket, & Epston, 1997). The research process was underpinned by assumptions of the key roles of language in the production of meaning, and of storying in producing understandings of intentionality and agency in people's lives (White, 1997).…”

Counselling and professionalism: A phenomenological analysis of counsellor experience

“…For example, Counsellor B would share responsibility with her organisation for the discord she outlined. Crocket (2007) proposed, that when faced with such dissonance individuals responded to the presence of conflicting cognitions by modifying attitudes and beliefs to align with behaviour. For example, the lack of agency experienced by Counsellor B when her supervisor was dumped on her by the organisation was replayed as resistance towards him.…”

“…Such thinking resonates with Ozga's (1995) theory regarding professional culture where the nature of professionalism is defined from within. Crocket (2007) considers the predicament from a different perspective: "Supervision promotes inspection, accountability, and self-awareness and counsellors become ethical and effective practitioners and autonomous professionals. Thus, counsellors are caught up in the self-managing and self-policing practices of the wider culture" (p. 12).…”

UNBC clinic of care: clinic manual and marketing plan

“…Competency in the literature is defined as a continual assessment of self and client (Allen et al, 2007), and an application of accountability, self-awareness, ethical and effective practice (Crocket, 2007). Competency is more of a continuum of training that incorporates the existing qualities of the person into that of a practicing counsellor.…”