Enhancing Reflective and Reflexive Practice and Self Care in Supervision

Enhancing Reflective and Reflexive Practice and Self Care in Supervision

Delivered via interactive videoconference (Zoom platform). This workshop is a PsyBA approved one day Master Class which will provide participants who are already approved supervisors with ongoing AHPRA accreditation for 5 years. 

This workshop integrates both theory and practice to support supervisors in applying a reflective and reflexive practice framework within clinical supervision. It is designed to ensure supervision is firmly embedded in a competency-based model that aligns with the updated AHPRA Professional Competencies for Psychologists and the Code of Conduct. Supervisors will extend their knowledge and skills by developing metacompetencies for setting up, facilitating, and evaluating supervisee reflectivity across different developmental stages. The workshop provides practical opportunities to:

• Apply reflective and reflexive supervision micro-skills, including immediacy, critical reflection, and self-awareness.
• Practise dialogical reflexivity through structured role plays, live demonstrations and video-based reflective questioning exercises.
• Use visual supervision tools such as the Supervision Frame and Supervision Roadmap (© CSS) to structure reflective processes.
• Explore parallel processes within the client–supervisee–supervisor relationship, with an emphasis on ethical practice, cultural responsiveness and power dynamics.
• Critically evaluate supervision practices against the Code of Conduct principles of respect, professional boundaries and practitioner wellbeing.

The workshop also emphasises self-care for supervisors and supervisees, highlighting how reflective supervision can create a safe, restorative, and sustainable professional space. Pre-reading resources, including a revision of competency-based supervision requirements and updates to professional standards, will be provided to ensure participants are fully prepared.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the workshop participants will be able to:

• Align supervision practice with the updated AHPRA Professional Competencies for Psychologists and the Psychology Board Code of Conduct.
• Apply reflective and reflexive practice frameworks to enhance supervisee development and critical self-awareness.
• Practise and teach dialogical reflexivity and micro-skills (e.g. immediacy, reflective questioning, parallel process awareness).
• Incorporate deliberate practice methods to strengthen supervisee competence, confidence and ethical responsiveness.
• Foster supervisee capacity for self-supervision (developing the “internal supervisor”) to support lifelong reflective practice and wellbeing.
• Embed health equity, diversity and cultural responsiveness in supervision, ensuring safe and inclusive practice across client and supervisee populations.
• Evaluate supervisee growth and supervision quality using tools such as Competency Developmental Plans (CDPs), contracts, and structured feedback mechanisms.
• Model and promote professional self-care practices, recognising supervision as both a developmental and restorative process.

WORKSHOP CONTENT:

The workshop provides experiential opportunities to discuss and practice the core concepts presented in the workshop. Video excerpts and case scenarios are used to aid learning. Activities include:

• Defining, understanding and facilitating reflective and reflexive practice.
• Creating a mindful space for reflection, promoting the restorative function in supervision.
• Enhancing self-reflection (the internal supervisor) and awareness of self in practice.
• Demonstration of reflective questioning techniques and role play practice sessions.
• Understanding and working with parallel process (Exploring relational dynamics (client–supervisee–supervisor) and the implications for ethical practice, power, and boundaries).
• Application to clinical case work –reflection in action, on-action and for-action.
• Managing supervisory complexities: Boundary issues; Self-issues that can impact professional practice; and Self-care of the professional
• Consolidation through case discussions, role plays, live demonstrations, and small group reflective practice.
 

WORKSHOP PRESENTER: 

Christine Senediak is a Board-approved supervisor trainer with over 40 years of clinical and supervisory experience. She has extensive expertise providing individual, peer, group, and organisational supervision to psychologists, social workers and Allied health professionals working in child, adolescent, and family services, schools, adult mental health, trauma, drug and alcohol, gambling, sexual assault, and cross-cultural contexts.

Trained as a systemic and multigenerational family therapist, Christine brings a systemic lens to supervision, considering the broader relational and organisational context in understanding clinical challenges. Her supervision practice is grounded in reflective practice, fostering self-awareness and reflexivity to strengthen the therapeutic alliance and address relational dynamics. She integrates systemic, cognitive-behavioural, mindfulness, and person-centred approaches to create a flexible, evidence-informed framework that supports both professional growth and effective client care.

CERTIFICATION:

Participants are required to attend the full day and will receive a certificate of attendance for 7 hours of training in accordance with AHPRA Master class requirements. This workshop is interactive and allows ample time for practice and review of participant questions/clinical scenarios and case issues brought to the session.  Further information on Board requirements regarding submission of certificate is available on the Psychology Board of Australia website.