How do we know if we’re on the right track with our clients?
How do we know if our clients feel safe with us?
How do we know if our client is dissatisfied with services?
April 2023 Clinical Supervision Topic: Unconditional Positive Regard
What I want to know is: what do you tell yourself in order to foster unconditional positive regard towards your clients? Here are a few things I tell myself:
March 2023 Clinical Supervision Topic: Therapeutic Alliance
Therapeutic alliance accounts for 7.5% of the variability in outcomes, coming in third after goal consensus and empathy. However, I’d argue that goal consensus and empathy are part of the therapeutic relationship. So if you remember anything, remember that what matters most is the relationship.
February 2023 Clinical Supervision Topic: Empathy!
When has someone shown you great empathy? Was it mixed with compassion, or separate?
When do you most feel safe and connected in your interactions with clients?
January 2023 Clinical Supervision Topic: Goal Consensus
What are your goals for your clients? What do you hope they get out of working with you? Which direction do you hope they move in? How do you hope they experience your sessions together?
December 2022 Clinical Supervision Topic: Setting Expectations
Here’s what I want for you. I want you to see yourself as an appreciative ally, a co-conspirator, a fellow traveler and all the other roles we take, yes…but I also want you to see yourself as a leader. And in particular, the leader in any clinical interactions you have.
November 2022 Clinical Supervision Topic: Cultural and Identity Adaptation
Something to keep in mind as we go about assessing, diagnosing, and treatment planning, is the importance of adapting our work to our client’s culture and identity. Irvin Yalom believed we should create a new treatment for every single client, and I kind of agree.
October 2022 Clinical Supervision Topic: Diagnosing
My goal for this month is that you are able to navigate the system which exists, including the system of assessing and diagnosing with the DSM. I also hope you’re able to critically think about it, know its flaws and shortcomings, and be able to discern when it’s a help or hindrance for your client.
September 2022 Clinical Supervision Topic: Self-Compassion
Our work is incredibly vulnerable. With this comes the opportunity for connection and deep, meaningful healing (for ourselves and others); but it also can bring up old wounds, self-criticism/judging, the risk of emotional exposure and everything else. The antidote? Self-compassion.