What is supervision?
A working agreement between supervisor and practitioner during which the practitioner can discuss and reflect on their client work, receive feedback and, where appropriate, guidance.
The term “Client” in the ASIS Ethical Codes refers to any person who pays for Member-Practitioner services, or acts as a Client for a Member-Practitioner who is in training, and includes individual Clients, workshop participants, online course participants, supervisees and mentees.
Benefits of supervision
Supervision provides a confidential space for you to:
share achievements and breakthroughs
receive support for professional growth
reflect on your client interventions and on ways to improve professional effectiveness
flag boundary slippage to prevent violation
ask any questions about client sessions, workshops, or training events
highlight safeguarding issues / policies / risks
raise concerns about any aspect of client relationship
explore instances of transference / counter-transference, including romantic / erotic transference
create / support practitioner accountability
receive constructive feedback about unconscious patterns and misjudged interventions
identify collusion / blind spots
creatively collaborate
highlight where Continuous Professional Development would be useful
be heard, acknowledged and validated
Why supervision is essential
strive to provide the best possible service to clients
supports practitioners when they are setting up their practice and ongoing
practitioners are often working alone & confidentiality means that they cannot openly discuss their clients
nature of the work - building relationship, power dynamic, intimate involvement for all parties
client work involves possibility of boundary violation and misuse of power
recognised (tried & tested) process for managing safety of clients and practitioners
supports ethical conduct
promotes self-reflection
provides the structure of a formal working relationship between supervisor and supervisee
brings an objective perspective & experience
helps to identify limits of practitioner competence & ensure practitioner is working within these limits
fundamental component of practitioner self-care & ongoing professional development
mandatory requirement of ASIS Professional Membership
ASIS recommendations for supervision
Supervision is a requirement of Professional membership and applicants are asked to include their supervisor’s name on the application form. Point 8 of the ASIS Ethical Codes of Conduct states: “Professional Member-Practitioners are required to have regular supervision as a routine part of their practice to maintain their ability to serve clients ethically and effectively. This can be peer/group supervision and/or expert supervision or, optimally, both. Member-Practitioners agree to request supervision and guidance when experiencing ambiguity or difficulty with interpretation of what constitutes ethical behaviour. Member-Practitioners commit to their own self-care, personal growth, and continuing professional development (CPD).”
It is the responsibility of Members to ensure they meet the requirement and keep a personal log. If a Complaint was brought against a Member-Practitioner, ASIS may request proof of supervision. A member who does not meet the minimum supervision requirements would be in breach of the Ethical Codes and therefore their agreement as an ASIS Member.
Supervision frequency
Suggested frequency for supervision relates to the number of client sessions and applies to any professional work, including to one-on-one client work, teaching, workshops, and online programs etc.
The following table shows the recommended minimum frequency of supervision according to case load:
ASIS recommends that members retain a record of supervision and professional development.
While the minimum number of supervision sessions per year is 3, ASIS strongly recommends supervision beyond the minimum and recognises that the case load of members (and the supervision requirement) varies considerably between members.
How to find a supervisor
At this stage we do not have specific criteria, however someone offering supervision to members should:
have significant experience and knowledge of working in the field of sexology
be supportive of somatic work
have a good understanding of the role of supervisor
we recommend that Member-Practitioners choose supervisors who are knowledgeable about working with diverse client groups e.g. awareness of Gender, Sex and Relationship Diversity (GSRD), neurodiversity, racial and cultural differences, and trauma-informed practice
People you could approach might include your teachers and trainers or reputable practitioners working in your field. Someone trained in supervision (which is a modality in its own right) may be appropriate too, however, be aware that supervisors who do not work hands-on may not be supportive of, nor understand, hands-on work.
Types of supervision
We recognise that ASIS members work in different ways so practitioners need to choose supervision options that best support their practice. Supervision may be in person or online, and can be provided by more than one supervisor and/or type of supervision. All of these are considered equally valid.
Supervision options:
One-to-one professional supervision
Professional group supervision
Peer-led group supervision or one-to-one peer supervision
Potential benefits & drawbacks of different types
One-to-one professional supervision
One-to-one professional supervision benefits
Time that is focussed on you and what you want to explore
Only two people so easier to schedule
A relationship with someone you have built trust with over time can be supportive in identifying blind spots as well as growth and development over time
Provides the structure of a formal working relationship between supervisor and supervisee
Higher probability of receiving constructive feedback about unconscious patterns and misjudged interventions
Receiving the perspective and wisdom of a highly experienced practitioner
One-to-one professional supervision drawbacks
Can be unhelpful or detrimental if there is not a good fit between supervisor and supervisee
Can be difficult to find someone who you want to work with, who is supportive of somatic sexology and who is available
Financial investment can be an obstacle
Professional group supervision
Professional group supervision benefits
Professional facilitation brings structure and focus
May focus on a single modality or graduates of a single training organisation
Potential to learn about different types of practitioners, different ways of working and/or receive feedback from a variety of points of view
Opportunity to keep up to date with developments in your field and allied fields
Lower financial investment than 1-2-1 supervision
Having the experience of being a contributing member of a supervision group
Group dynamics should be managed by the supervisor (unlike peer supervision)
Professional group supervision drawbacks
There is less time per person so can be a less depth compared to 1-on-1 supervision
May focus on a single modality or graduates of a single training organisation
Peer-led group (and one-to-one peer) supervision
Peer-led group supervision benefits
Building network of professionals for community building, support & referrals
Exposure to (and learn about) different types of practitioners, different ways of working
Receive a variety of feedback points of view
Opportunity to keep up to date with developments in your field and allied fields
Recognition that you are not alone in encountering certain client situations
The opportunity to share tips & resources
Low or no financial investment
Having the experience of being a contributing member of a supervision group
Peer-led group supervision drawbacks
Reluctance to challenge and call-in colleagues can lead to collusion
There is less time per person so can be a less depth compared to 1-on-1 supervision
Requires creation of and adherence to agreed parameters - respect for others and the group process
Dependant on participants - the quality of feedback will be a reflection of others’ levels of experience and expertise
There can be a lack of commitment & focus
Group dynamics can interrupt learning
Can be difficult to coordinate schedule and higher chance of no-shows
Some peer group supervision resources:
Methods and structure of peer group supervision in six phases
Peer Supervision - No-One Knows As Much As All Of Us — Articles
Supervision Agreements
It is important to agree the scope and terms of any supervision. Some of the key points to consider in making a Supervision Agreement include:
What is the focus of the supervision?
The structure of the sessions
Frequency & location of sessions
Terms of confidentiality
Boundaries and dual relationships
Supervision fees & payment terms
Access to supervision outside of booked sessions
Cancellation & termination of supervision agreement
Supervision and Complaints
In the event of a complaint or other proceeding against a member, the ASIS Board or others may request evidence of supervision and professional development and may contact the member’s supervisor if required.