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Before and after engagementA few additional thoughts:1. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;If you have spoken to a prospective supervisor and think you would like to try them but are still unsure, I suggest you book one session with that Supervisor. By the end of the first session, you will know whether you can work well together. Alternatively, book 3 sessions because sometimes you just need to get to know each other a bit before the chemistry kicks in.2. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;If the Supervisor is based overseas, you may find once you get up and running that there are cross-cultural issues or issues of understanding (accents) that do not translate well over Zoom as the medium for the session. You will have to determine what works for you and, once again, if this Supervisor is the right fit.3. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The Supervision Contract – Supervisors should be upfront about supervision contracts. Some Supervisors will send you a contract to sign before the first session begins, which outlines requirements like confidentiality, session cost, times and expectations. Some Supervisors will do this process during the first session as part of the first session. There are no strict rules for this.4. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Remember that you may need to repeat this process a few times to find the Professional Supervisor that is the right fit for the season you are in.5. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;During the course of your professional life, you may have a few or several different Supervisors depending on your season and what it requires. Happy finding the right fit for you!!Feel free to email me if you have any further questions at <a data-mce-href="mailto:kris@kristhornton.com" href="mailto:kris@kristhornton.com" title="Email me: " target="_blank" rel="noopener">kris@kristhornton.com</a>or fill in the contact card on the website.&nbsp;

3. How to Find the Right Professional Supervisor For You. Part 3 of 3

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Part 2 of a 3 part series.Making the initial contact: &nbsp;As a first step, contact the potential supervisor/s via phone or email and book an initial call. This call can take around 15 minutes, and you will need to get a sense of them as a person and a Supervisor before deciding whether you would like to engage them. This initial contact call is not a supervision session (which would be chargeable time for them). This phone call determines whether they seem a comfortable fit for your needs. The initial phone call is a job interview, and you are the interviewer. Here are a few thoughts about finding a Supervisor you can work with.What questions should I ask myself while interviewing prospective Supervisors?1. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Safety and TrustDo I feel like I could trust this person? Do I feel safe with them?Supervision is a process that will put you into a space where you may feel vulnerable. Vulnerability requires trust and safety.The supervision space involves reflection. Reflection is a powerful tool that helps us stay resourced and creative in our work. The process of reflection will invariably hit on some of our vulnerabilities and compel us to look at them during our supervision sessions. This process must be well managed, and the Supervisee needs to feel safe with the Supervisor facilitating this process.Can I trust this person with what happens to me and in me through my work?Do I feel heard? Do I feel rushed?If you do not get a sense of safety from the Supervisor during your initial phone call, then this person is not the right person for you.2. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Rapport&nbsp;Is this person someone I 'click' with, resonate with, or feel a good connection with?Is this person a nice person with whom I would like to spend an hour a month?If there is no connection during the initial phone call with your prospective Supervisor, then this is not the person to give permission to see the inside lining of your soul. Find a Supervisor that you connect with.Ideal personal qualities include that they are warm, empathic, professional, caring, organised, engaged, articulate, boundaried and present. 3. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The Supervisor's Professional Experience &nbsp; Is it important to me, as a Supervisee, that my Supervisor has experience and understanding in my area of professional practice? Unlike Clinical Supervisors, Professional Supervisors do not have to have professional experience in your fields of expertise to supervise you effectively. There is great value in engaging a supervisor who understands the nuances of your industry. Some people feel more understood when they relate to a supervisor who has worked in their profession and has some understanding of how it works. Let me emphasise that the importance of the Supervisor's background experience is up to the Supervisee. The Professional Supervisor should and would be able to supervise you effectively while knowing little or nothing about your profession. What questions should I ask my prospective Supervisors? 1. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Confidentiality – What is your approach to confidentiality?Professional Supervisors should be able to outline the boundaries of confidentiality in their sessions clearly. These boundaries should include mandatory reporting, record keeping and boundaries around sharing information with other professionals (doctors etc).2. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;What types of supervision do you offer? Individuals and/or Groups (if groups, what sizes)3. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;How do you conduct your supervision sessions? In-person, walking supervision, via Zoom, via phone? In your office? In my place of business?4. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;How much do you charge for Professional Supervision?Self-employed Supervisors set their own rates, but in general, you can expect to pay between $120 – $200 per session depending on the Supervisors' skills, experience, and who they are aiming their services towards. Some Supervisors are also coaches, chaplains, and pastors, and they bring a range of other skills and experience to their supervision sessions, which add value to your session. If you want the Supervisor to attend your work place they may charge an additional fee for travel and time. &nbsp;5. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;How long is a session? Each individual supervision session will be around 50 – 60 minutes. Group sessions can run for different lengths of time depending on the clients requirements and budget. .

2. How to Find the Right Professional Supervisor for You. Part 2 of 3

Part 1 of a 3 part series.Where do I start?Finding the right Professional Supervisor for you can feel like a daunting task. It is helpful to know that finding and choosing your Supervisor is often a process, not an event. There is much to be learned from the process of finding and choosing your Supervisor. &nbsp;Supervisors have their own unique approach to supervision. Supervisees want and need different things from their Supervisor. Insights into what you want and where to find it are gifts of this process.As a first step, I would ask the people you trust (and might know someone) who they recommend. Often, people are willing to share the contact details of their Supervisor if they are happy with the person they are using. However, sometimes colleagues and friends may not wish to disclose who they engage as their Supervisor, and I understand why they might feel this way. Supervision sessions are bound by professional confidentiality, but people are people, and your colleagues and friends may feel more comfortable with a bit of distance between their Professional Supervisor and the people around them.So, if you need to find a list of potential Professional Supervisors to consider, here are a couple of options I am aware of (because I’m on them 😊):1.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a title="The Australasian Association of Supervisors (AAOS)" href="https://supervision.org.au/find-a-supervisor/?level_name=&amp;state=&amp;ps=&amp;pn=1&amp;limit=15" target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://supervision.org.au/find-a-supervisor/?level_name=&amp;state=&amp;ps=&amp;pn=1&amp;limit=15" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">The Australasian Association of Supervisors (AAOS)</a>2. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a title="Chaplaincy Australia" href="https://www.chaplaincyaustralia.com/supervision-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-href="https://www.chaplaincyaustralia.com/supervision-2/">Chaplaincy Australia</a>

1. How to Find the Right Professional Supervisor For You. Part 1 of 3

<h2>1. Pastors don't trust people to keep confidentiality. </h2><figure id="figure-q4igwgcbelt2ajmw1"><img id="q4igwgcbelt2ajmw1" src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1675430428153-92b14fb34331?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxubyUyMHRydXN0fGVufDB8fHx8MTcwODkxMzA0NHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" alt="a close up of a don't trust anyone sticker" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="(c) benjamin lehman" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1675430428153-92b14fb34331?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wyNjI5NjF8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxubyUyMHRydXN0fGVufDB8fHx8MTcwODkxMzA0NHww&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">(c) benjamin lehman</figcaption></figure>Question – 'Where can I be honest about my work without worrying about confidentiality, judgment, disloyalty or jeopardising my role?'Truth - Professional Supervision is a safe and boundaried space for you to speak openly and truthfully. Supervisors are bound by professional confidentiality. What you say in the room stays in the room! Before you begin your first supervision session, your Supervisor should make you aware of the exceptions to confidentiality (e.g. mandatory reporting).&nbsp;<h2>2. Pastors can feel guilty and disloyal when discussing the realities of ministry work. </h2> Reality - What do we do when the people we need to discuss are our pastors, leaders, congregation, friends, or family members? Talking about other pastors and leaders (especially our church pastors) can feel disloyal. Being open about the impact of our work on ourselves and our families can leave us feeling guilty, exposed, or worried about the security of your church employment or volunteer ministry role.The Bible says that we need to practice discretion in what we say and where we say it. The Bible also tells us to carry each other's burdens. We are not supposed to carry our burdens alone. There are safe people and spaces to help you reflect on what is happening within your unique ministry context.Question – If I knew that there was no risk to me or anyone I care about, what would I say about the impact my work has on me, my family, and my church?Truth – We should not allow feelings of guilt and disloyalty to deceive us into carrying our burdens alone. &nbsp; Supervision is a safe space to reflect and receive support.<h2>3. Pastors believe that Professional Pastoral Supervision is too expensive.</h2>&nbsp; Reality - Pastors' salaries have long been associated with 'living by faith.' Many pastors have decided they can't afford supervision, and some may not be completely wrong. However, statistics around burnout and pastors leaving the ministry tell us what we already know – pastors must proactively invest in their mental and emotional fitness if they want longevity in ministry.Question – How am I prioritising my mental and emotional fitness for myself and the people I strengthen and serve through my work?&nbsp;Truth - We prioritise what we value. Making Professional Supervision a priority models care for our well-being and care for those we strengthen and serve through our work.By Pastor Kris ThorntonProfessional Supervisor, Executive Coach, AuthorAccredited: Australasian Association of Supervisors and Chaplaincy Australia

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3. How to Find the Right Professional Supervisor For You....

2. How to Find the Right Professional Supervisor for You....

1. How to Find the Right Professional Supervisor For You....

3 Reasons Pastors Avoid Professional Pastoral Supervision