In today’s blog, I’m exploring the differences between Coaching and Supervision and providing an overview of the benefits they offer to women working in the human services sector.
Drawing from personal experiences as both a recipient and a provider of these services, todays article will help you to navigate the distinct characteristics of coaching and supervision and shed light on how each contributes to your personal and professional development as a practitioner in the helping professions.
A lot of us enter the helping professions because we care about others, we want to help people. The reasons behind why we enter the profession differ for everyone, but I know that a lot of us a drawn to the profession because we have either been through something ourselves, experienced a love one being through something or we just have an intrinsic value for upholding basic human rights.
When I say ‘something’, I mean things like having been abused as a child yourself, or growing up in an unsafe family environment, or having a friend or relative that went through something traumatic and you could see the impact it had on them. Or, maybe you have experienced domestic violence in a relationship, or you’ve turned to alcohol/drugs and this led to an addiction. Maybe you have lived with your own mental health challenges…the list is endless! Whatever your reason is…a lot of the time, our career path has been influenced by our personal experiences.
So, when you think you can ‘keep work at work’ and separate the impact of your work on your personal life, I strongly encourage you to reflect on this. For some, coaching can help, for others monthly supervision is enough. Some of us need a mix of therapy, coaching and supervision to help prevent compassion fatigue, manage vicarious trauma and ensure longevity in a Social Work (or other helping profession) career.
NB I haven’t gone into therapy in this blog post, but you can read about that on it’s own here.
Coaching
According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF) which is the ‘gold standard’ for coaching accreditation worldwide, coaching is about –
‘Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential’
ICF
Coaching is a collaborative and mostly future-focused professional relationship aimed at enhancing a ‘coachee’s’ skills, performance, and fulfillment. It involves a process of inquiry, active listening, and reflection to help individuals set and achieve specific goals, both personal and professional. Coaches typically employ a strengths-based approach, encouraging self-discovery and empowerment.
Receiving coaching is not compulsory in professions like Social Work, counselling, etc so it may not be something you consider when thinking about your professional development. However, I strongly encourage you to give it a try at least once.
Coaching is a safe space where you can talk about things you’re noticing about the impact of work in your personal life such as your sleep habits, eating habits, energy levels and confidence. Coaching also helps you to focus on your own health and wellbeing needs and mindset in your personal life so that you can progress in your career. You know, the whole ‘fill up your own cup first’ thing 😉
Having a coach can be a way for you to talk with another professional about topics that may not be as relevant in supervision. It also may feel safer for you to talk with a coach – who is not your manager, especially if it includes future career planning (that may not be where you are currently working).
Coaching can take various forms depending on the goals and preferences of the person involved. A few types of coaching that you may have heard of are health and wellness coaching, relationship coaching, life coaching, career coaching and executive coaching. If you haven’t heard of these before, here is a (very basic) idea of the differences:
Health and Wellness Coaching
This concentrates on your overall physical and mental well-being, including areas like fitness, nutrition, stress management and much more. The benefits of engaging in health and wellness coaching are that you are able to focus on building a healthy lifestyle and enhancing your overall wellbeing.
Relationship Coaching
Relationship coaching addresses aspects of personal and professional relationships, which can include romantic, family, and social connections. This type of coaching could be of benefit if you want to enhance your communication skills, improve relationship dynamics and can help you to foster greater interpersonal connections.
Life Coaching
This addresses personal development, life transitions, and overall well-being. Seeing a life coach can help you to set and achieve personal goals, enhance self-awareness, and navigate life changes with confidence.
Career Coaching
This aims to support you in your professional development, career transitions, or entrepreneurship. Career coaching may benefit you if you want support in setting specific career goals, or would like to work on improving leadership skills, and navigating workplace challenges.
Executive Coaching
Executive coaching is geared towards people in leadership roles, helping them to enhance leadership skills and navigate organisational challenges. This type of coaching can help leaders improve their effectiveness, enhance decision-making, and foster professional growth.
Along with different types of coaching, there are different ways in which you can work with a coach. Some people enjoy 1:1 coaching sessions, others prefer group coaching. Some of the benefits of 1:1 coaching are;
- Personalised attention – Tailored coaching sessions cater specifically to the individual’s needs, goals, and challenges.
- Confidentiality – Offers a private and confidential space for open and honest discussions.
- Deep Dive – Allows for a deep exploration of personal issues and facilitates a more profound understanding of oneself.
- Flexibility – Sessions can be customised to address immediate concerns and adapt to the individual’s pace. You can choose to have one off sessions or enrol in a coaching package.
Some of the benefits of group coaching are;
- Community Support – Group members benefit from the shared experiences and insights of others in the group.
- Diversity of Perspectives – Exposure to different viewpoints and solutions can enrich the learning experience.
- Cost-Effective – Group coaching is often more affordable than 1:1 coaching, making it accessible to a broader audience.
- Networking Opportunities – Participants can build a supportive network and connections within the group.
Supervision
According to the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), the purposes of Supervision in Social Work are;
- Administrative (‘risk management, effective recording, informed and ethical decision-making and performance management’)
- Educational (‘encouragement of reflective practice…to enhance process of managing changes in policies and procedures…involving the provision of knowledge and skills and development of self-awareness’)
- Supportive (‘helping the supervisee deal with job related stress…helping sustain worker morale and giving the supervisee as sense of professional self-worth’).
I have shortened these definitions, but you can read about it directly here.
Supervision is a structured and evaluative relationship between a supervisor and a supervisee. It is a formal process that involves oversight, guidance, and feedback to ensure that the supervisee’s work aligns with organisational goals and professional/ethical standards. Supervision often addresses case management, ethical dilemmas, and the overall well-being of the supervisee and their clients.
Receiving supervision is compulsory in some settings. For example, membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) or Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA), practitioners need to engage in a certain number of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours that includes supervision. A lot of organisations will offer workers an amount of external supervision sessions per year and will pay for these. Other organisations will offer supervision within the organisation and practitioners receive supervision from their line manager. Either way, engaging in supervision is more of an expectation in practice, rather than an ‘additional choice’ for practitioners.
There are many peak governing bodies within Australia alone which provide membership for different practitioners. For the purpose of todays blog, I will briefly mention two peak governing bodies in Australia, these being the AASW and ACWA. However, there are many more, here are a few others that may be relevant to you –
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
- Australian Counselling Association (ACA)
- Australian Psychological Society (APS)
- National Disability Services (NDS)
While you are completing your field placement, you will have access to regular supervision provided by a qualified practitioner. Once you finish studies and enter the workforce as a paid professional, you may not ‘have to’ engage in supervision, but I would argue that it is crucial in your own professional development. Some organisations will offer supervision (either individual or group) within the organisation, which is fantastic and helpful for you in guiding your practice in your casework, etc. However, you are also able to request external supervision through your employer.
Also, if you are considering (or already are) a registered member of the ACWA, then you are required to complete 20 hours of CPD hours per year. 4 hours of supervision can be included in these CPD hours and I would highly recommend you add this to your yearly professional development activities. The ACWA states ‘Acceptable CPD activities include ‘Participating in professional supervision, either as supervisor or supervisee, that is oriented to professional development (not routine updates)’. This is where external supervision may be worth investing in, as your -in-house’ supervision involves a lot of routine updates such as updates on case load, etc.
With regard to Social Workers, AASW registered members are required to complete 10 hours of professional supervision per membership year, for any of the credentials. The AASW practice standards define professional supervision as ‘a forum for reflection and learning’. Under these CPD hours, Social Workers are able to use ‘supervision, coaching, mentoring and/or seeking professional consultation (such as contacting the AASW Ethics an Practice Standards Consultation Service)’.
I have spoken about the importance of clinical supervision before in another blog article, you can read about that here. But basically, we need supervision throughout our career to keep us practicing ethically, allow a space for critical reflection and discuss ways of enhancing our professional skills. It can also be used as a means of discussing our professional boundaries, understanding ‘triggers’ in practice and how to manage these as well as developing self-awareness. These are all crucial, not only for the practitioner in their own career, but for other team members, but most importantly – our clients.
In supervision, practitioners can discuss career goals, set out yearly professional development plans, have discussions about their case work and/or training opportunities that they want to engage in that will both benefit the organisation and the individual. Similar to coaching, there are different ways in which you can engage with a supervisor, either 1:1 or group supervision. Some of the benefits of 1:1 supervision are;
- Individualised Attention – Supervisees are able to receive personalised feedback and guidance specific to their own needs, strengths, and areas for improvement.
- Focused Development – The supervisor can address individual professional development goals, creating a targeted and customised approach.
- Confidentiality – 1:1 supervision provides a confidential space for the supervisee to discuss sensitive cases, ethical concerns, or personal challenges without concerns about group exposure.
- In-Depth Discussions – Allows for a more profound exploration of the supervisee’s thought processes, decision-making, and overall professional practice.
- Individual Case Analysis – Enables a detailed analysis of specific cases or situations, facilitating a thorough understanding.
- Adaptability – Sessions can be adjusted to the supervisee’s pace and needs, allowing for flexibility in addressing immediate concerns.
Some of the benefits of group supervision are;
- Multiple Insights – Supervisees benefit from a variety of perspectives and experiences brought by different group members.
- Learning from Peers – Observing how others handle cases or challenges can provide valuable insights and alternative approaches.
- Enhanced Communication Skills – Participating in group discussions helps improve communication and presentation skills.
- Team Collaboration – Encourages collaboration and the development of teamwork skills within the professional group.
- Cost-Effectiveness – Group supervision is often more cost-effective as the supervisor’s time is shared among multiple participants, making it a practical option for organisations (or individuals) with budget constraints.
- Networking Opportunities – Creates a supportive network among professionals facing similar challenges.
If you haven’t tried either coaching or supervision (or both) why not give it a try? There are a lot of coaches and supervisors in Australia and other countries, it is just a matter of finding the right ‘fit’ for you. For example, not all coaches have ICF accreditation so they won’t be listed on the website and not all social workers have current memberships but are still qualified social workers, experienced in providing supervision.
In case you are wondering, a practitioner does not need to have a certification to provide coaching. But, if you’re anything like me, you will want to look for someone who has at least some training and personal experience, then get to know them a bit more through their ‘About’ page on a website.
Below are some links for a list of supervisors and a list of coaches in Australia, but again – there are MANY more that are not covered here as some practitioners are not listed. Google coaches and supervisors in your area if you are looking to see someone in person or have a look for online coaches and supervisors. There are so many opportunities out there which makes it easier to find someone who is the right fit for you.
COACHES
- ICF – Find a coach
- HCANZA – Find a health coach
- IICT (Coaches are listed in here as well as other natural therapy practitioners) – Find a coach through IICT
SUPERVISORS
- Psychology Board of Australia – Find a Supervisor
- AASW – Find a Social Work Supervisor
- PACFA – Find a supervisor
- ACA – Find a counselling supervisor
In summary, both coaching and supervision can be utilised for the purpose of enhancing your wellbeing, strengthening your mindset and focusing on professional growth. I personally LOVE supervision, I love learning and helping others in their learning goals. Critical reflection is probably THE most enjoyable thing in Social Work practice for me….and yes, I know I am a bit of a nerd with this.
I also thoroughly enjoy coaching and honestly feel that the combination of receiving both is highly beneficial for women who work in the helping professions. One of the benefits of coaching is that it doesn’t just have to be about your role in your job. You can use coaching to guide you in developing holistic health and wellness that will help you in ALL aspects of your life.
If you are interested in learning more, I’d love to hear from you, click here to book in an online session.
