I am excited to have qualified as a mentor-supervisor after wanting to train for several years, yet I really don’t think I fully realised, as do many of us, exactly what it was!
Preparations
I am excited and impatient to be underway, and I had read all the books on the booklist in preparation. I followed a path with the likes of authors Ram Dass, Kathryn Manix, Henry Marsh, Atun Gawande and I can recall the station platforms I was on listening to big stuff about ageing, end of life and death through my headphones. This was surprisingly helpful for my personal and professional life.
Module 1
I arrived for my first day, numbed by recent events and tired. Is stress for me an hour-by-hour thing, am I able to command my thoughts so I lose sight of the bigger picture? I felt more positive as the weekend progressed. Our location is beautiful, and I feel blessed to be in such an amazing cohort.
As a health care professional, I recognise the importance of confidentiality and contracts and find listening skills invaluable in my clinics. I work on an energetic level and in my clinical supervision work the undergraduates need practise to tune in to the energetic of their patient. Wearing my new “supervisor-mentor” hat, my patients become my clients, or “supervisees,” and my role is less hands-on and broadens to become more exploratory. Both roles support and offer empowerment and transformation. Supervision is less tangible, can be within groups as well as one to one, and I like the description of ‘a particular kind of professional conversation’ (Burton J., Launer J.)
I finished the first weekend so thankful I was underway on a long-awaited training. I love my work, and these new skills can only enhance and enrich it.
Journalling
I have done this in the past. I have a green book which has proved invaluable to download my emotions. I started writing in 2011 as a suggestion from those running a health practitioners volunteer group in Sarajevo, which I was part of for two weeks. It was traumatic work, and it helped me to process. My journaling helped me navigate a major life event, then lay dormant. The pandemic saw me return to it and I last wrote when I contracted covid. It served as my noncritical friend, a way of airing and processing without judgement. The act of writing is therapeutic, and I find it insightful to revisit it.
For the last year I have sent myself a summary of the day’s achievements. I find this helpful to take stock and celebrate positives.
I have a friend from a different health care discipline and every few weeks we meet for walks when we take turns to talk and listen. It has supported us through life events and is priceless.
I started my reflective diary: little black book of mentoring & supervision thoughts.
Magic words: Patience, kindness, space, and timing.