CLINICAL AND RESEARCH SUPERVISION
Clinical Supervision
As a clinician I know from first hand experience how valuable it is to be able to reflect on my work with a fellow practitioner. So, while it is a requirement that all psychologists, counsellors and therapists have regular and ongoing supervision (Ethical Framework 2010), it is incredibly helpful and often mind-opening to be able to talk to another professional about anything that arises within the therapeutic space.
At the forefront of my supervisory practice is the desire to provide a safe space to discuss a range of issues regarding the therapeutic work in the most open and honest way and to give guidance towards gaining greater insight into the work through listening and engaging with an attentive ear, open heart and inquisitive mind.
I subscribe to the view that it is the supervisor’s goal: “to do whatever seems most likely to send the other person away more aware, more informed, skilled and encouraged than (s)he was when (s)he came in.” (Houston 1990, p12).
As a clinical supervisor, I provide one-to-one, as well as group supervision. I am on the Register for Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS) and practice from an existential-phenomenological perspective.
Research Supervision
Having a huge interest in research and knowledge, I love the opportunity to provide research supervision to help and guide students on their academic journey.
Supervisees who I have and am currently supervising and supporting with their research, explore the experience of being a woman, ranging from the exploration of how women in their late 20s and 30s experience the perception of ‘running out of time’ within contemporary culture and digital dating to women’s embodied experience of consented but unwanted sex to the experience of teenage grooming and an exploration of child sexual abuse.
Research also includes an inquiry on how porn actors in the ethical porn industry experience their relational world, as well as an investigation of the impact pornography can have on perceptions of sexual consent.
The human experience is further explored in studies that investigate ambivalence towards becoming a mother, while others that look at expectations about motherhood in various communities, while others explore the experience of solo motherhood and solo fatherhood respectively.
Outside of the relational realm I also support students who explore the influence of social media, including how mental health disorders are understood on social media platforms like TikTok and the experience of cyberbullying.
Other research includes the experience of meaning for formerly incarcerated individuals, how burn out affects gay men and how existential themes of meaning emerge from psychedelic retreats as well as how Ayahuasca can lead to transformative life changes and an investigation into how people with persistent pain experience Mindfulness-Based Pain Management courses.
I lecture at the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling (NSPC) on their doctorate course and provide Clinical & Research Supervision with an interest in qualitative research methods like IPA, Heuristics and Constructivist Grounded Theory. I am also a Moderator and am part of the Ethics board and stand in as an Internal Examiner
Common questions
What makes your supervision distinctive?
Beyond the existential-relational frame, I bring nearly 20 years of clinical experience across diverse settings and populations, extensive teaching and examining experience at doctoral level, and active involvement in qualitative research. I'm particularly interested in the relational dynamics between therapist and client, how your own responses and patterns show up in the therapeutic relationship, and how we can use supervision itself as a space to notice and explore these dynamics. My supervision is collaborative rather than prescriptive—I won't tell you what to do, but I will help you think more deeply about what's happening in the work and expand your capacity to sit with complexity and uncertainty.
What is your research background?
My doctorate thesis explored the lived experience of recovery from substance use through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), working from an existential-phenomenological perspective. I have particular expertise in qualitative methodologies, especially IPA and heuristic approaches. I serve as both Internal and External Examiner for doctoral theses and lecture on research methods at doctoral level. My research interests continue to focus on phenomenological approaches to understanding lived experience, particularly that of women, relationships, and meaning-making. I've found that many clients and supervisees resonate with research that takes experience seriously and explores what it means to live through particular challenges—this phenomenological sensibility runs through all my work.
What do you mean by creating a 'safe space' in supervision?
I actively encourage supervisees to bring the cases that trouble them most—the clients you're struggling with, the sessions where you felt lost, the moments you're uncertain about or even not proud of. This isn't about exposing your weaknesses; it's about creating the conditions for genuine learning and growth. When supervision becomes a place where you only present your successes or feel you need to perform competence, we miss the opportunity to examine what's genuinely difficult in your work. More importantly, when supervisees feel they must hide their struggles, their clients ultimately receive less thoughtful care. My dual concern is for both your wellbeing as a practitioner and the wellbeing of your clients—these are inseparable. The safer you feel to explore your challenges openly, the better equipped you are to work skillfully with complexity and difficulty in your practice.
How does your research background inform your supervision?
The phenomenological research orientation—which prioritises understanding lived experience without imposing theory too quickly—shapes how I approach supervision. I'm interested in what's actually happening in the therapeutic relationship as you and your client experience it, not just in applying theoretical frameworks. This means really attending to the nuances of how your clients make meaning of their experiences and how you're experiencing the work yourself. It also means I'm comfortable sitting with ambiguity and multiple possible meanings rather than rushing to interpretation or solution.
Who do you typically supervise?
I primarily work with counselling psychologists and psychotherapists, both in the final stages of training and post-qualification. I supervise practitioners working from various modalities, though my existential-relational approach means I'm particularly well-suited to supervising relational, humanistic, existential, and integrative practitioners. I also supervise work with relationship and intimacy concerns, LGBTQ+ clients, consensual non-monogamy, attachment-focused work, and clients exploring questions of identity and meaning.
What should I bring to supervision?
Bring whatever is alive for you in your work—the cases that concern you, sessions you're puzzling over, difficult dynamics, ethical dilemmas, or broader questions about your practice. You might bring detailed notes about specific clients, themes you're noticing across your caseload, or questions about your own responses and countertransference. There's no 'right' way to use supervision; it's shaped by what you need to explore.
What's the difference between supervision and personal therapy?
While both involve reflection and exploration, supervision focuses specifically on your professional practice and your work with clients. We might explore your responses, feelings, and patterns as they show up in your clinical work, but the frame is always about understanding how these affect your practice and your clients' care. Personal therapy, by contrast, focuses on your own wellbeing and development without the professional practice lens. Most practitioners benefit from having both supervision and personal therapy, as they serve different though complementary functions.
How do I know if your supervision approach is right for me?
If you're drawn to existential, relational, or phenomenological approaches to therapy; if you value a supervision space that prioritises honest exploration over performance of competence; if you're interested in understanding the relational dynamics in your work and your own responses to clients; or if you work with the kinds of issues I specialise in (relationships, intimacy, identity, meaning-making), then my supervision may be a good fit. That said, the best way to know is to have an initial conversation. I'm happy to discuss your supervision needs and whether we'd work well together.