The course is designed for counsellors and psychotherapists who are acting as supervisors or who are considering adding supervision to their practice.
The course is designed for counsellors and psychotherapists who are acting as supervisors or who are considering adding supervision to their practice. It is not necessary for participants to be working as supervisors during the course, since opportunities for skills practice and peer review are provided during the course time. That said, many attendees on this course are already supervising in some capacity or setting.
The course consists of theoretical, experiential and supervisory components. The theoretical input encourages critical engagement with the theory and practice of supervision. Assessment is ongoing and aims to ensure that students are able to work with the dynamics and processes of supervision; that there is congruence between the student’s theoretical knowledge and their supervisory practice. Teaching and supervisory methods emphasise the multi-layered, multi-faceted processes of supervision, including the use of one’s own process.
This course provides competence in working online and by telephone as well as in person – which is especially applicable nowadays. The course covers supervision formats of individuals, peers, and groups – so the learning is widely relevant in different supervision settings.
Learning outcomes for participants:
This training is designed primarily for psychotherapeutic practitioners such as counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists.
However, those practitioners in a related field have also successfully benefited from this programme, including coaches or hypnotherapists, British Sign Language interpreters, dance and movement therapists. Please contact us if you’d like to discuss how this course may be relevant to your scope of practice.
The integrative stance of the course is in recognition that there may be a difference in training background or theoretical approach between a supervisor and their supervisee(s), particularly in organisational supervision contexts.
We appreciate the training and approach that course members bring. Onto that foundation we offer the opportunity to build a cohesive integrative way of working as a supervisor.
For those recently appointed as a supervisor in an organizational setting, one of the hardest moves to accomplish is the transition from being a team member to that of team leader or supervisor. Individuals in a supervisory role are no longer on equal terms with their peers and have to earn their respect, show authority and leadership, sometimes making unpopular decisions.
The newly-appointed supervisor often faces the complexities of the supervisory role, but can also take advantage of the possibilities and potential of the role, enabling them to lead by example and so gain the trust and respect of their team. Through this training, those starting to provide supervision will be able to identify themes for supervision, provide constructive feedback and handle delicate situations assertively.
This course attends to skills and considerations particular to supervision as distinct from the provision of therapy.
Supervision requires the development of new skills in order to work with the various aspects and processes of supervision, including both conscious and unconscious dynamics. The training considers the theory that underpins supervisory technique, links theory to practice through supervisory work and develops the ability to be aware of the processes inherent within supervision.
The course is integrative and intentionally multi-modal. It is taught at postgraduate level; course participants are expected to work academically on this basis. This includes the ability to evaluate theoretical concepts and a commitment to reflect critically and open-mindedly on one’s own process, philosophy, theoretical orientation and skills. Discussion in the full group or smaller groups is as important as the tutor-taught components. The experiential process of development encourages participants to learn from one another as well as from the course tutors. The integrative philosophy underpinning this course fosters a multidisciplinary environment where theoretical differences and similarities are creatively valued.
Attention is paid to reflective practice and the educational, restorative and containing power of supervision. Participants are encouraged to integrate the ideas from the course into a personally coherent model of supervision. There is also an acknowledgement of organisational contexts for supervision, which can bring additional dimensions for consideration, such as dual roles of clinical and management responsibility, definition of boundaries and confidentiality issues.
The course philosophy aims to establish a learning community in which a working alliance is established which encourages participants to take responsibility for their own learning and to support the learning of other course members.
The following themes will be explored:
During this course you will:
Students are required to submit one essay of 3,000-3,500 words. The essay requires the student to make an account of their model of supervision, including practical examples and the impact of their learning from the course. The essay is submitted up to 3 months after the end of the taught course.
Students also need to complete satisfactorily a facilitation of a supervision session. This assessed supervisor session will be undertaken at the final weekend during the course time, with another course student in the role of supervisee, using anonymous material from the supevisee’s practice. The assessment will be made by tutors, peer and self.
There will also be continuous assessment by the tutors of the student’s presence in the student group and the ability to integrate the taught material.
Additionally, a minimum of 80% attendance (13 days) is required to complete the course.
The Diploma award will be made on satisfactory completion of the assessment criteria:
The Diploma will be awarded on successful completion of all assessment criteria as well as full payment of fees. Otherwise, a certificate of attendance will be given, unless the student completes in their own time and at their own cost a programme of remedial work agreed with the core tutor and a director of The Grove Practice.
This training follows the BACP Counselling Supervision Training Curriculum (2021). There is a further option to add to this qualification if evidence is provided by the student of their log of supervision hours delivered. This option is for those who have the opportunity outside the course time and in their own work setting to generate a log of a minimum of 20 supervised hours of supervision delivered (per the 2021 BACP guidelines; previously 40 hours in the BACP curriculum published in 2014). If that log is submitted to The Grove bearing the signature of the supervisor of supervision, an additional line of wording will be added to their Diploma award as evidence of previous supervision practice. Working as a supervisor during the course is optional: some participants are already supervising; others prefer to wait until completing their supervision training. Either way, it is possible to complete the course and gain the Diploma in Integrative Supervision of Individuals and Groups.
There is no requirement for a supervision placement during this course. Some participants might already be supervising. Other participants may begin supervising during this course. No formal hours of supervision in the role of supervisor are part of this training course. Students are invited to start taking on private supervisees while in training on this course, or to seek supervisees through their employment organisation or other workplace. This will depend on the setting(s) for their work and upon access to formal supervision of their supervisor work. There are skills practice opportunities during the course time. However, these are within the course learning environment and cannot be logged as time delivering formal supervision in the role of supervisor.
This course is consistent with BACP requirements for evidence of supervision training in the application criteria for Senior Accreditation with BACP. This course follows UKCP requirements that the qualification contains both theoretical teaching and supervised supervision as components required to achieve the competences of a supervisor. For BACP and UKCP and COSRT and other professional bodies, there are usually additional criteria for each applicant to fulfil before gaining supervisor recognition or accreditation as a supervisor. These additional criteria are outside the scope of The Grove’s supervision training and are the responsibility of the applicant. These statements are made to the best of our knowledge and with best endeavours. It is incumbent on each course student to check criteria for supervisor recognition with their own professional organisation.
This intake is now closed and is currently underway. Please see our 2025 programme for all future intakes.
The Autumn 2024 intake will be held entirely on Zoom. The course is held at weekends on Saturday and Sunday.
Course dates:
7 & 8 September 2024
5 & 6 October 2024
9 & 10 November 2024
7 & 8 December 2024
11 & 12 January 2025
8 & 9 February 2025
8 & 9 March 2025
5 & 6 April 2025
Times each day:
10am – 4:30pm.
The Spring 2025 intake is taught in person at NCVO. The course is held at weekends on Saturday and Sunday in 2025.
Course dates:
15 & 16 March
12 & 13 April
10 & 11 May
7 & 8 June
5 & 6 July
6 & 7 September
4 & 5 October
1 & 2 November
Times each day:
10am – 4:30pm.
The Autumn 2025 intake will be held entirely on Zoom. The course is held at weekends on Saturday and Sunday.
Course dates:
6 & 7 September 2025
4 & 5 October 2025
8 & 9 November 2025
6 & 7 December 2025
10 & 11 January 2026
7 & 8 February 2026
7 & 8 March 2026
11 & 12 April 2026
Times each day:
10am – 4:30pm.
£2,600 + VAT = £3,120 payable payable in full before the start date or by instalments during the course time.
After paying the deposit of £480 including VAT, the remainder of the fee can be paid by instalments as indicated on the invoice usually reaching the full total by 6 weeks before the final weekend of the training.
The course fee includes all training materials and the CPD certificate.
Some reduced-fee places may be awarded depending on student circumstances, subject to availability. The course fee can also be invoiced fully or partially to an employer or funding organisation. Please contact us for details.
This information is applicable for courses attended in person.
Tea and coffee and water are served during each day of the course.
A light sandwich lunch is served each day. This includes fillings with meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan options. Please let us know if you have particular dietary requirements such as gluten-free.
Alternatively, there are many cafes and restaurants near the venue such as at Kings Cross station or in York Way, where different lunch options can be purchased if preferred.
Please note that only food and drink served by the venue may be consumed on the premises.
I feel that I have learned a lot from the course and I am now looking forward to building up my experience as a supervisor.
Niki
Enrol for the Spring 2024 intake
Training with us empowers a positive difference in the lives of the people you support.
Read all about it here
Sarah has extensive experience of supervising therapists at all stages of their career.
Elliot Davis is a UKCP-registered psychotherapist and certified trauma therapist.
Dip (Psych, Trauma, Supvn) MUKCP IATP
Professor Ernesto Spinelli has wide experience of teaching psychotherapists and supervisors.
Professor Michael Worrell is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years’ experience.
Dr Roberta Babb (BSc Hons, MSc, DClinPsych, CPsychol CSci AFBPsS).
Tom Warnecke (PgDip, ECP, UKCP) is a relational and somatic psychotherapist, trainer and writer.
Ruthie teaches psychoanalytic supervision.
There is no requirement to be supervising already. Some learners take the supervisor training before starting with supervisees. However, it can be advantageous to be working with supervisees while taking this course – so that the learning is immediately relevant in practice.
If the learner submits a log of 20+ hours of supervision provided to supervisees (signed by their own supervisor) then this evidence of supervision practice will be added as a line of narrative on the Diploma certificate issued at the end of the course.
Applicants are expected to be qualified and experienced professionals in a mental health or helping profession, who are established in their practice. This will be covered in the application form. All applicants are expected to:
This training qualifies students in individual or group supervision.
The Grove Practice is accredited by NCIP (National Council for Integrative Psychotherapists) as a CPD training centre. As such, all of The Grove’s courses in our suite of training programmes are awarded NCIP accreditation for CPD (Continuous Professional Development). This accreditation provides reassurance regarding high standards of teaching and course content which have been recognised within the psychotherapy profession.
Participants who successfully complete this course can use the qualification as evidence of training in supervision, when applying to COSRT for supervisor accreditation.
Please note that it is your responsibility to check the criteria required by your professional association(s) regarding supervisor listing, supervisor recognition, or supervisor accreditation.
The Grove understands that this course has been used successfully to fulfil the training requirements for the practitioner’s supervisor accreditation with many professional bodies, such as BACP, NCIP, NCPS, UKCP, AHPP, ADMP, and COSRT. However, you may also be required to meet other criteria such as log of supervision you have provided in the role of supervisor, or evidence of receiving supervision of supervision.
For UKCP recognition as a supervisor, each UKCP College has its own criteria for supervisor recognition – so if this is applicable to you, please contact your Membership Organisation directly. The route to supervisor recognition by UKCP is usually through your training institute making a submission to your UKCP College on your behalf. The Grove is not a Membership Organisation within UKCP.
For BACP supervisor accreditation, please refer to the BACP website for details of the criteria for gaining this recognition. For other professional membership bodies, please see their respective requirements.
The Grove’s courses have been successfully recognised as CPD for members of the following membership bodies: UKCP, BACP, COSRT, NCIP, NCPS, AHPP, BPS, among others. Organisations such as Relate and MIND and Place2B have also supported their therapists in taking training with The Grove. This is a mark of unofficial validation of our courses as worthy of being listed on the CPD logs for these members and organisations.
As a marker of the course content, The Grove’s supervision course is consistent with the BACP psychotherapy / counselling supervision training curriculum published in 2021, which provides for an in-depth understanding of best practice and competence for supervisors. The Grove understands that BACP intends this as a minimum standard, providing a curriculum framework for training providers to follow. Our view is that the BACP syllabus enables qualified counsellors to acquire the knowledge and skills required to practise as clinical supervisors in a variety of settings, including the supervision of groups as well as supervision for individual supervisees. This statement by The Grove does not imply that BACP has assessed or endorsed our supervision training; rather, our intention here is to show that The Grove has reviewed professional guidelines regarding the content of our supervision course.
This course is taught at Level 6 equivalence. This training is a high-level integration of supervision theory and practice, designed for mature and established mental health professionals. This is a post-qualification training which requires theoretical evaluation, self-reflection, and interpretation of how to apply the models in mental health settings such as clinical practice or multi-disciplinary teams in organisations.