As a private practitioner and the added responsibilities that come with it, timely supervision is non-negotiable to maintain the quality of my work. The monthly sessions of Onward Supervision have been extremely supportive in this regard. Being a small group of professionals along with an experienced facilitator, this programme combines the features of peer- as well as expert- supervision. The exercise of preparing to present a case pushed me to see the small details and the big picture. Having multiple viewpoints about a case helped me to understand my clients’ reality as well as my counselling style. The shift from feeling stuck to having a definite direction to the counselling process is a truly liberating one. I also found it enriching to listen and help peer counsellors with their work from a stance outside of the counsellor-client dynamic. The relevant themes discussed around termination, suicidality, anxiety, neurodivergence helped me go beyond textbook understanding to a deeper level of what the experience of these themes could be in the clients’ lives as well as for the counsellor. The dynamics of transference and countertransference can easily be missed out, and continue to affect sessions without the counsellor knowing. An engagement like Onward Supervision was key to understanding how these were operating in my work, and how to navigate them. I highly recommend OS for new as well as experienced counsellors, as the programme design offers enough flexibility to support counsellors according to one’s individual needs and stage in one’s career.
Sanjana Meher Yerroju, Counselling Psychologist at private practice
I have greatly benefitted by the supervision. It helped me to open up by looking at different perspective of the same problem from various angles. It challenges my confirmation of how the client works and functions and helps me address by bisas'. Ms Shalu with her experience working with individuals and families provides useful insights. The group also brings cases which is enriching and helps explore various aspects of human challenges.
Nalini Venkatachalam Iyer, Tramua Informed Psychotherapist