Adventure Therapy and Supervision – Fighting Burnout – Emotional First Aid for Practitioners Part B

Dr. Stephan Natynczuk And Dr. Elspeth Schwenk

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Supervision offers:

A point of regular reflection – to explore & reflect on the way you work • A different perspective on your practice • A time to consider what went well (why & how) and what was missed or overlooked and how to remedy this for next time • A safe space in which to become more aware of how you (and others) affect, and are affected by, clients • A safe place to offload and recharge your batteries and gain support

Supervision offers Discussion about what is appropriate in a particular setting or context & potential ethical concerns A blend of feedback and challenge regarding your work The potential for new ideas and research Support & guidance identifying issues for therapy or additional training /professional development It ensures a duty of care is extended to both the participant (client) & the professional, & the monitoring of best practice

It is important supervision has :

• • • • • some form of structure and format is undertaken on a regular basis is both personal and professional in offering a safe, reflective space is not seen/experienced as or replaces but works alongside line management offers a critical appreciation of the factors associated with ‘adventure’ & ‘‘therapy’

7 Key Aspects to consider in establishing a supervision contract:

1. Context 2. Contract details 3. Boundaries, relationships & responsibilities 4. Expectations, ethics - a Duty of Care 5. Task, purpose and Limitations 6. The training & development needs of the practitioner 7. Focus & process approach – the supervision model

1. Context of Supervision

• Context: Refers to the

setting, purpose & philosophy of the

relationship between the outdoor/adventure & therapy

Contract:

2. Contract

Who is Responsible to whom and for what?

2.a Some Contractual aspects to consider:

      Working with young and/or vulnerable clients Working in groups vs 1-1 What are appropriate levels of supervision?

Issues related to working in a public v.s. isolated space Managing issues of power and authority, confidentiality Establishing an agreed code of ethics – related to one’s professional ‘home’

2.b. Specific Contract details:

- What to bring to supervision vs what to take to line management - Fitness to practice issues & what steps are in place when this is in question - Duty of care issues to client & practitioner - Managing boundaries, relationships & responsibilities

3. Boundaries, relationships & responsibilities

Referring Agency

What is expected?

What is not known?

Agency Client Practitioner Supervisor

What boundaries need to be in place for a supervisor/manager ?

• Working with difference, respecting issues of equality and diversity • Managing confidentiality • Managing organisational dynamics • Reflecting upon the therapeutic dynamics & well being amongst participants, leaders & colleagues

4. Expectations & Duty of Care

• • Who has professional responsibility?

What is the extent of that responsibility?

• • What procedures are in place? The organisation & its Adventure Therapy Practitioners need to be clear & regarding the law & child & Vulnerable People Protection issues.

5. Stage of Development

   

practitioner competence & development

(capability vs limitations) do I have what I need?

how can I develop further?

review the outcome of interventions .

 

Client needs

level of personal, physical, emotional & cognitive development

6. Task, Purpose & limitations

 who the is the outdoor & adventure therapy for?

 hidden agenda?

- desired outcome of the referring agency - implicit/explicit contract between agencies  What is the potential for client resistance?

 client preference & voice?

 ‘who’ is the client?

 expectations & issues regarding power & autonomy within the adventure therapy relationship

6a. Reflection on the ‘wobble’

Disequilibrium is a key component of adventure therapy & is dependent upon the levels of trust within the Therapeutic Alliance. As a supervisor, I’d want to explore this frequently - for both client and practitioner…..

6b. Who is having the adventure?

And is it therapeutic?

For safe practice purposes, the adventure therapist does not work alone, but is often accompanied by a third person – who witnesses the therapeutic process.

Their role in relation to the Adventure Therapist & client needs to be fully explored … or The question regarding supervision of this individual should be explored – especially if either the therapeutic process , or the adventure aspect, became traumatic or personally disturbing.

6c. Outcome and Reflection

In adventure therapy something happens for everyone!

Supervision enables the practitioner to reflect upon: the contract the client the relationships the activity (what went well, what was unexpected, how things could be done differently etc… ) and the ‘shadow side’ Supervision offers a 360 review and de-brief & a way to capture and consider the event and process

6d. Generative support

Supervision encourages the practitioner:  to look inwards - a process encouraged for the client  to think about what is going on for them - how they feel about themselves… in relation to the client, the ‘third person’, the contract, & the outcome….

7. Focus & process approach: models of Supervision

 Cyclical Model – Page & Wosket  Developmental Model – Stoltenberg & Delworth  7-eyed model – Hawkins & Shohet  Egan’s 3 Stage Model  Person Centred Model  The Relationship Model – Inskipp & Proctor 

Solution Focussed Model

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Waskett