How to find a supervisor

by Lisa HarrisNo Comments
Finding out if needs, experience, and goals align. As supervisors we all work a little differently, as supervisees, we are all different. This means finding the best fit or right combination might feel like a never ending task - but it doesn't need to. Thinking and reflecting on ourselves and putting this with what we might already know we are looking for, can be an excellent place to start. Communicating this to a potential supervisor can be a great time saver and allow everyone to make effective use of time. Think about your own professional background What is your current Role?Are you a trainee, newly qualified, an experienced practitioner, a supervisor, manager or consultant? What are your credentials, qualifications, Professional Body and supervision arrangements: Are you a member of the BACP, UKCP, NCPS etc. What is your level of training, what particular qualifications do you hold or are you working towards? What are your own achievements and background? What are your current supervision arrangements and how might...
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Nothing blossoms all the time

by Lisa HarrisNo Comments
Nothing in nature blossoms all year - so why do you think you ought to? I read something recently that pointed the above fact out to me. I sat with this a while and realised, whilst there are 'evergreen' plants nothing to my knowledge at least, flowers all the time, continually. In that regard I suppose we could say, it is not natural to be blooming all the time. As in, we do not see it in nature. My word though, do we seem to hold ourselves to that standard. We have to be on point, get everything done, be successful, meet deadlines, exercise, hydrate, sleep, have a social life, connect with others, do our housework and iron our clothes - ok maybe not iron. But you see my point here. Bloom all the time?! I simply can't, nor do I have the energy or desire to try. Human first. I say this a lot. Always human first.We succeed at times, we make epic mistakes...
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Reflection and journals

by Lisa HarrisNo Comments
Today's addition to my journal :A piece by Mother TeresaAn albanian- Indian nun1910-1997 I often journal my thoughts, reflections or things I've read that have resonated with me. Today it is this.So, in short ... Forgive anywayBe kind anywaySucceed anywayBe honest and frank anywayBuild anywayBe happy anywayDo good anywayGive the world the best you've got anywayIt was never between you and them anyway. The photo is of my journal where I've written this out in full. (Complete with an error!) Reflecting is an important part of being a therapist and supervisor. Inspiration, ideas, thought process, drawings and doodles, wise words from another, realisations, fears, achievements and more can all be recorded or perhaps unpacked in journals. Free writing or free scribbles can unlock, reveal or remind us of so much. Reading back through our journals we can often follow our journey, see our progress, recognise themes or be simply reminded of things we'd forgotten.Sometimes this can help us prepare for supervision or support our own therapy. The...
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My journey to being Lisa Harris

by Lisa HarrisNo Comments
I've always been a people person I've always actively worked with people in one form or another.My first grown-up job in 1993 was as a health care assistant in an old cottage hospital working on long stay care of the elderly wards (as they were known then), often with those impacted by strokes or long-term health conditions. This was my first experience of working with brain injury. Thesekinds of wards don't even exist anymore. I really loved this job. I had so much one-to-one time with my patients to attend to their care and needs and to really listen to them. It was here that I learned that we are all human-first, in very real ways. I progressed to working in a brand-new build hospital working in the diagnostic radiology, the x ray department. I looked after patients' emotional and physical well-being when in the department for any kind of scan, x ray, or investigation. I really enjoyed the personal connection I had...
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