Clinical Supervision Handbook - CAMH Knowledge Exchange ...

clients, illustrating where they have been able to generalize an approach and where
they have had to make modifications.
Purposes of group supervision
Group supervision provides opportunities for clinicians to learn skills in peer supervision
and to experience support from colleagues who may be struggling with similar
feelings around caring for a challenging client. Group supervision can also contribute
to team cohesiveness and provide a rich experience for exploring several different
perspectives. Group supervision may be more feasible than individual clinical supervision,
particularly on a busy inpatient unit where taking time away to meet oneto-one
may not always be practical. It may also be a desirable method of supervision
with reduced resources.
Successful group supervision
Group supervision is most successful when the supervisor is available and supportive,
and regular scheduled sessions are offered that are flexible in duration and protected
from interruptions. Supervisors can show support by demonstrating respect for
the supervisees, by not minimizing their opinions, and by allowing them to make
mistakes. Successful group supervision is highly dependent on the supervisor’s ability
to assist group members to process group dynamics, especially when they interfere
with sharing practice and learning issues.
Leadership style
Clinical Supervision Handbook
Clinical supervisors need to provide staff with an orientation to group supervision.
Staff members must feel safe (i.e., not feel embarrassed, shamed or sense that others
are competing with them to be the “best clinician”) and understand what is expected
of them. They should also be asked what they expect from the group and the supervisor.
The clinical supervisor should ensure that both content and process issues are
addressed. Clinical supervisors model expected behaviour of a group member and
provide feedback in a way that focuses on the clinician’s strengths rather than his or her
mistakes. They intervene when group members’ behaviours do not support the norms
of risk-taking and providing constructive feedback. For example, in the case of a
clinician who does not discuss difficulties that she or he has working with clients,
tending instead to focus on questioning others about their practice, an intervention
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