In Love with Supervision: Creating transformative conversations

by Robin Shohet, Joan Shohet

Robin and Joan Shohet are pioneers in supervision training for the helping professions. Much more than a manual, this book embodies the heart, soul, spirit and values of their training courses - a golden treasury of insight, wisdom and practical techniques. Its detailed descriptions of their courses apply directly to the work of the helping professions and the therapeutic relationship; what they say apply also to how we all negotiate relationships in our work and our lives. The book opens with the '23 principles' that form the basis of their beliefs about the role and function of supervision. It goes on to describe in detail five of the courses they have been running for some 40 years. These are vivid scripts taken directly from course recordings, bringing to life the interactions, exchanges and relationships played out in the training process. Here we have the Core Course, the Seven-Eyed Model, the Group Supervision Course, the Advanced Course, and the one-day workshop Fear and Love in Supervision. The book ends with a bank of resources drawn from Robin's published writings over the years. These are bold, brave, sometimes raw and always deeply honest accounts of the Shohets' inspirational supervision training - each accompanied by one of Joan's cake recipes.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 6, 2020

Reviews

[Zoë · Rating 3 out of 5]

I managed to finish this book hours before meeting the authors at the EMCC In-Person Supervision Day in London.

The book mostly describes the different supervision courses run by Joan and Robin, which are grounded in mental health/ social work type practice. There were ideas I wanted to lift and apply to my own practice and some powerful reflection on supervision. On the flip side (as might be expected with those from a psychology field) it was quite Theory heavy, grounded more in psychoanalysis than other paradigms - with returns to transference and countertransference which, while I'm sure has it's place, I still don't think I could confidently identify it in my own practice.

There's a whole chapter reflecting on a disastrous training session as a learning exercise which was useful to an extent, but to have participants' own responses to the session, including in the form of art and poetry, just seemed too much.

Joan also includes baking recipes throughout. Weird or nice? My mild irritation at the 'little wife' element of this contribution was quieted by the foolproof shortbread recipe which even I managed to make. So, there's that!

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a course I did over the autumn. Though it was very good.