Critical Supervision
Responsive support when something in your practice needs attention.
Most supervision is planned in advance. But sometimes something happens in your practice that feels too important, unsettling or time-sensitive to wait until your next scheduled session.
You might be concerned about your own well-being, uncertain about an ethical dilemma, or worried about something that has happened in your work with a client. You might simply have left a session feeling that something doesn't sit quite right, without knowing what to do next.
These are moments when having somewhere to pause, think and talk things through can make a difference.
When might I access critical supervision?
Critical supervision is available to existing supervision clients when something arises in their practice that needs more immediate attention.
This might include:
Your own well-being: when something in your professional practice is affecting your well-being, or you are concerned about your capacity to continue working safely and effectively.
An ethical concern: when you are facing an ethical dilemma, uncertainty or a situation that feels particularly serious or time-sensitive.
A concern about someone else: when something has happened in a session or professional relationship that leaves you worried about another person, and you're unsure whether or how to respond.
You don't need to have worked out exactly what's wrong or what you need before getting in touch. Sometimes the most useful starting point is simply having a space to articulate what's happening.
How it works
I offer existing supervision clients a free 15-minute telephone conversation, which can be booked with at least 12 hours' notice using the booking link above.
The intention is to create a brief opportunity to pause, make sense of what's happening and consider what needs to happen next.
If the situation requires more time, we can arrange a further supervisory conversation at a mutually convenient time. Any additional supervision is charged at my usual supervision rate.
If you need to speak with me sooner than the available appointments allow, please email me at hi@bethclaremc.com.
A note about well-being and safety
Supervision can offer an important space to explore the impact of professional practice on your well-being. However, critical supervision is not a crisis service, therapeutic intervention or substitute for urgent mental health support.
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or are concerned about your immediate safety, please reach out for appropriate support rather than waiting for a supervision appointment.
If you are in the UK:
Samaritans: Call 116 123, free, 24 hours a day.
Shout: Text SHOUT to 85258 for confidential text support.
Hub of Hope: Find local mental health support at https://hubofhope.co.uk.
Immediate danger or urgent medical assistance: Call 999 or attend your nearest emergency department.
If you are outside the UK, you can find country-specific crisis and emotional support services at https://findahelpline.com.
A note about ethical concerns
Fear, shame and uncertainty can make it difficult to speak openly about situations in which things haven't gone as intended. I want supervision to be a space where you can bring these experiences without feeling that you need to have resolved them first.
I will approach these conversations with curiosity, care and appropriate challenge, supporting you to consider your responsibilities, the people affected and the possible next steps.
As an EMCC member, I am guided by the Global Code of Ethics, which sets out shared expectations for professional conduct across coaching, mentoring and supervision.
My responsibility is to work within the limits of my competence and experience, and to be attentive to the wider ethical and professional responsibilities involved. Where a situation requires expertise or intervention beyond my role as your supervisor, we will need to consider what other support or action may be appropriate.
Critical supervision is not a substitute for formal safeguarding, regulatory or organisational reporting responsibilities. Those responsibilities remain yours, and we can use supervision to think carefully about how to fulfil them.