Supervision of psychology trainees and interns

Online Workshop: 2 half-days 16 & 17 July 2024, 9.00am – 1.00pm presented by Fiona Howard

This event will NOT be recorded.

The supervision of trainees and interns brings much reward and some challenge as the role of supervisor brings responsibilities given the task of evaluation and often sits alongside an already busy role. The relationship therefore needs to get off to a good start where roles, responsibilities, and expectations are established in early conversations and through the process of negotiating the supervision agreement. In this course we will explore some of the particularly important areas to discuss in anticipation of the many challenges that may occur across the process of a placement or internship. Content will include how to adjust one’s style, approach, or methods according to the changing needs of the student across time as their competence and autonomy grows. Of particular interest to many will be how to manage the process of feedback and evaluation especially when a negative evaluation may be anticipated. In parallel with the students’ workshop, we will also explore the power dynamics that may emerge and how to manage these such that conflict can be managed.

The course will provide a confidential and safe forum to learn through reflection, discussion, and practice in small groups. It is suited to prospective supervisors of students or interns in 2024 (i.e., enrolled in a post-graduate psychology course such as clinical, counselling, health, or education in Aotearoa New Zealand). The course will not reference any specific University course as requirements of each vary, rather it will address more generic issues of supervision from the evaluative supervisors’ perspective. Previous training and experience in supervision is desirable as this is not a complete ‘introduction to supervision’ course. However, the specific experience of being supervisor of students or interns is not required. Some specific pre-reading will be recommended closer to the time.

PRESENTER: FIONA HOWARD

Fiona Howard is a Clinical Psychologist who works privately, primarily offering supervision, training, and therapy, as well as workshop facilitation for Umbrella Wellbeing Ltd. Previously, she worked at the University of Auckland in the Doctoral Programme of Clinical Psychology. Her key areas of expertise and interest include professional supervision, adult mental health, addictions, positive psychology, self-care and wellbeing, resilience building and leadership for health professionals. She has provided supervision workshops to a variety of professionals in several organisations for over twenty years and taught on the post-graduate professional supervision programme at the University of Auckland. In addition, Fiona has presented at local and international conferences, written articles and chapters and conducted research in the field of supervision. Through her career Fiona has developed a strong interest in the wellbeing and resilience of the health professional and is a firm believer in the need for greater attention to the needs of practitioners by organisations and teams within which they work as well as by practitioners themselves. Fiona believes a central way to maintain wellbeing is through growth-fostering relationships such as supervision, where we can optimise our professional competence, work satisfaction and ongoing sustainability.