It’s Monday morning 8.00 am and I am going through information one of my supervisees has sent me in preparation for our call later today…..

I want to take time out to reflect and be prepared for the call, since the supervisee has put a lot of effort into their preparation. It is all paperwork:  coaching logs, CPD, training logs, personal statement and ethics, in readiness to submit for accreditation

And now this takes me back I hear the echo of my supervisor when I was training and putting off completing the paper work for accreditation – his advice was “Just do it!”

I remember the process well. At the time I was reluctant to repeat the experience,  and yet here I am an accredited and registered member of many professional associations.  So much has shifted…

I reflect in the moment on my journey first in business, then as an Executive Coach and latterly as a psychotherapist.  As a Coach I remembered questioning why I would need supervision. Wasn’t supervision for trainees? Was I not old enough and wise enough already?! I smile wryly at that memory, now in the moment…

It was when I embarked on my psychotherapy training that I encountered a different philosophy.  In this field supervision is a compulsory component of accreditation, yet it’s not just to keep you on the straight and narrow. It was for someone impartial to share your dilemmas, crises, emotions and triggers. I remember well the days reaching out to my supervisor when all seemed doom and gloom and wondering whether I would ever get through the non–ending reflection and completion of paperwork,

And now, here I am today at the other end of the ‘tunnel’, helping an experienced coach through their application for accreditation.  It feels so vital to seek support for many aspects – administration, reflective practice, emotional support - as well as bringing client dilemmas, learning more about models and interventions.

We all learn in different ways, I prefer to learn through participative discussion, and then will follow up with reading and putting theory into practice.  So this is a thank you to my long suffering supervisor of 10 years - who has been with me as guide, support, mentor and encouragement…as well as keeping me motivated to complete the paperwork!

I wanted to grasp this moment to share this with you, no matter how & why you start it …. supervision is for life, not just for accreditation!

Anne Calleja MSc, DMS, Dip. NLP EHP, PDCHYP, BSCH, BACP Reg, UKCP Reg, MAC, APECS, CIPD.