Supervision as Spiritual Practice

Robin Shohet worked as a primaryschool teacher and then residential social worker in a therapeutic communityfor people coming out of psychiatric hospital. In 1979 he co-founded the Centre for Supervision and Team Development (www.cstdlondon.co.uk), specialising in supervision training. He is theauthor and editor of several books on supervision in counselling and otherhealth and social care settings, including, with Joan Shohet, In Love withSupervision (PCCS Books, 2020). In 1999 and 2013, he organised twointernational conferences on forgiveness, based on the spiritual self-studyprogramme A Course in Miracles, and in recent years, as well as hissupervision work, he has been delivering workshops on this topic.

'This is a valuable book to read for all supervisors and supervisees, interested in the question, 'How can my supervision be more spiritual?' Robin Shohet and his students open interesting and personal windows and reflections on many different ways of engaging with supervision, informed by a spiritual lens and by personal spiritual practices. As in his previous books, Robin brings a refreshing, different and challenging approach to the more mainstream supervision literature.'Professor Peter Hawkins, Chairman of Renewal Associates, global thought leader and author on supervision, psychotherapy, coaching, systemic team coaching, leadership, and organisational transformation'This book encourages readers to embark on the journey that has always been available - one we may have taken countless times before. We are invited to journey inward, pausing deliberately at the places where we have been deeply wounded - those places that vibrate and resonate with our clients, supervisees, and loved ones. And to keep travelling to encounter the divine, the love that resides within and around all of us. I have deeply enjoyed and appreciated my time with Robin and colleagues while reading this book. Journeying together, we share in the dilemmas, triumphs, and determination to stay deeply committed to being professionals, practitioners, and people who practice with love. This book will guide and transport you, ultimately bringing you to where we already are - spiritual beings in practice.'John Wilson, Director, Onlinevents'Robin Shohet and these graduate trainees from his and Joan Wilmot's 'Supervision as Spiritual Practice' course show immense generosity and courage in sharing here their refreshingly honest descriptions of their learning in process, drawing on their personal experience and client caseloads. Such unpolished, sometimes raw openness is a rare thing to find in a published book and offers inspiration to other supervisors wishing to explore spirituality in their work. Alongside, Robin has reworked the seven-eyed model of supervision to reflect a spiritual dimension, bringing greater depth to this classic approach. This book is an extraordinary example of transcendence of ego and a humbling reminder that we are all on a learning journey. I would highly recommend it to any supervisor (or supervisee) wanting to deepen their connection to self and others.'Sheila Campbell-Lloyd, EMCC master coach/supervisor'Reading this book has been a joy. Immersing myself into Robin and his contributor's words, I have emerged feeling refreshed with a renewed enthusiasm for the compassionate and spiritually aware approach to supervision that is put forward. The book encourages us all as supervisors to really 'see' and 'be with' our supervisees and to have compassion for them and ourselves. It moves beyond teaching about the traditional roles of supervision to the task of nurturing the soul of the supervisee. One supervises feeds back 'my cup is full again' surely this is what all of us need to enable us to continue to undertake the many and often difficult challenges of therapeutic work.'Dr Susan Dale, counsellor, supervisor, narrative practitioner and author of Trauma-Informed Practice: A collaborative narrative approach (PCCS Books)

• Foreword - Professor Charlotte SillsIntroduction - Robin Shohet1. Including the ecological in the supervision process - Elaine Thelier2. Otherness in supervision - Carole J Miles3. Super vision: Revisiting the seven eyed model through thelens of love and connection - Robin Shohet4. Awakening to the song of silence: Balancing duality andunity in supervision - Neela Masani5. Supervision: Going beyond our personal narrative - Emily Henderson6. Becoming a 'good enough supervisor' - Maureen Othen7. Pilgrimage to metamorphosis - Sue White8. The heart of kindness - Sue Haycroft9. The spiritual act of supporting clients to see moreclearly - Kathryn GordonConclusion: There is only the journey - Robin Shohet