Strike when the iron is cold - Irvin Yalom's advice to counsellors

Strike when the iron is cold - give feedback to clients about a behaviour when they are behaving differently.

That's one of fifty pieces of advice for counsellors from Irvin Yalom, compiled by Renee Baker for her blog.

Another: Use your own feelings as precious and valuable information.  If a client bores you for example, then they may likely bore others as well.  Use that.  Say to the client, “I notice I have been feeling disconnected from you, somewhat distanced…is your feeling similar?…let’s try and understand what is happening.”

I think supervisors will find the list of great help in working with supervisees (especially students and beginners) and, indeed, in their own counselling work.

Link to this resource.

APA warns against untrained and unknowledgeable supervisors

Too many clinical supervisors in psychology are untrained and unknowledgeable, according to the American Psychological Association. Many supervisors believe no special training is required to enable them to do the job well and that they will pick up the necessary skills "by osmosis," according to an article in the APA's Monitor on Psychology. The APA has issued guidelines in an attempt to improve matters.

Although clinical supervision of psychologists may differ somewhat from the supervision of counsellors and psychotherapists, the APA view may ring a bell with those who feel supervision they received was less than good.

A link to the APA guidelines is at the end of the Monitor article.

Link to this resource