Family Law Supervision

Supervision for family law professionals…

You have such an important job as a family law professional, and meeting the needs and expectations of your clients, often with an overwhelming workload, can be stressful and emotionally challenging.  Historically, you have been expected to deliver a high quality of service without receiving any of the support that is mandatory in other helping professions. Fortunately, that’s changing.  Now, you can choose supervision and benefit from having a confidential, reflective space to share burdens and to be listened to with compassion and curiosity.  Your mental health will thank you for it!

We can explore dilemmas and build emotional resilience.  One of my supervisees said, “you give me the headspace to think through my problems in a kind, non-judgmental, understanding way which has given me a different perspective in solving them which has been immensely helpful”. Together we can nurture self-compassion, create coping strategies, and develop a growth mindset, which will give you the tools to evolve and refine your professional practice.

 A senior partner and team leader said “One of my colleagues has had supervision with Elaine and I’ve watched her grow in confidence and stature. Her personal development has excelled as a consequence and this has benefitted both my colleague as a lawyer and also the firm. External supervision is invaluable as it provides a neutral support which can go much further than could be achieved by anything ‘in-house’.”

 In addition to case discussions, some examples of issues that I often discuss with my supervisees include:

 ·        Perfectionism and threats to professionalism

·        Boundaries and clarifying your own values.

·        Dealing with high conflict personality clients and colleagues

·        Vicarious trauma and the contagion of emotion

·        Low self-esteem, perceived failures and doubts

·        Home issues impacting work and vice versa.

I’ve worked as a family solicitor for over twenty-five years.  There are a huge number of positives, but there have also been dark and difficult times, many of which I had to deal with on my own. I wish I‘d received support from supervision earlier in my career.  I say this with the benefit of hindsight and having now experienced what it’s like to receive the empathy, care and insight of supervision in my work as a mediator, a family law supervisor and Truth Facilitator for IICSA. I feel better equipped to manage anxiety and stress and to find job satisfaction and balance.

It’s all about fitting your own oxygen mask first so that you are in the best place to help others.  You can’t keep running on empty!

I offer a free 20-minute chat to discuss the opportunity to work together.  Please use the contact page on this website for more details.