FAQ’s

  • The Australasian Association of Supervision (AASW) describes supervision as a structured, relational process that supports ethical and professional practice for the person being supervised.

    In practice, it's a safe, non-judgemental environment where you're welcome to say out loud the conversations you usually only have in your head.

    Together we'll create a space for thinking and reflecting, sparking ideas, gaining clarity and perspective, and growing as a leader. All of which benefits you and the people you lead and serve.

  • Every session is shaped around your preferred way of reflecting and what you want to get out of it. You might arrive with something specific in mind or simply come ready to see what surfaces. Both are a great place to start.

    Together, we might explore questions like:

    • What's going on in me?

    • What do I see happening?

    • What does this really mean, underneath the surface?

    • Where am I in this and what part am I playing?

    • Is there a better way to think about this?

    • What do I hope to see happening in the future?

    Exploring you and your work from these different angles helps you build a fuller, richer picture, enabling you to lead with clarity rather than responding to whatever's loudest.

  • Coaching, spiritual direction, pastoral care, counselling, and mentoring all offer real value for people who help others, but they serve a different purpose to professional supervision.

    Aspects of these helping disciplines may arise in supervision, but they aren't the focus. What makes supervision distinct is that it holds in mind not just you, but the people you lead and serve. Your growth and their wellbeing are both part of the picture.

    Supervision author Michael Paterson, in Between a Rock and a Hard Place, describes supervision as an intentional, ongoing conversation that pays attention to a person's soul, role, and context, and to the impact of their work on those they serve.

  • I often think about what would have been different if I'd had professional supervision when I started out serving others: the accountability, the space to think clearly, someone in my corner who wasn't also depending on me. Looking back now, the benefits are hard to overstate:

    • Accountability and healthy challenge

    • A lower risk of burnout

    • Practical, ongoing support

    • Greater strength and resilience

    • Space to explore how your personal and spiritual life intersect with your work

    • Reduced stress and anxiety

    • Learning from experience to shape how you lead going forward

    • Reflecting well on the culture and structures of the workplace you lead in

    Beyond the personal benefits, supervision is also increasingly expected as part of responsible faith-based practice. Following the 2017 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, it's now recommended that leaders in faith-based organisations, have regular access to supervision from a trained supervisor who holds a healthy degree of independence from their institution.

  • We'll figure out the right rhythm together during your initial consultation, based on your goals and what works for you.

    As a general guide, I recommend committing to a session every 6 to 8 weeks over a 12-month period. That said, more or less frequent sessions are available if that suits you better.