Episode 88: Laura Beaver created the Supervisor Support Network

Meet Laura Beaver LCSW who landed in the social work field early in her career. She began teaching as an adjunct professor and then a field director and finally became a program director. After experiencing burnout in higher education she transitioned to private practice. She loves helping students find their place in the field and helping supervisors remain passionate about this role. Rather than viewing supervision as a box to check, she prefers to view it as an opportunity to pour into the next generation of professionals in the field that will help to carry us forward. She created the Supervisor Support Network, a community that ensures supervisors feel seen and supported and get the resources and comradery necessary to do this work well. She has a Facebook group where shares conversations with supervisors and plans to start a book club in the new year as well as add a membership component. Make sure to tune in to learn how to ensure the supervision experience is positive and impactful and feel free to email her with any questions: laurabeaverconsulting@gmail.com.

Key Takeaways:

-Practicum experience will either be the entry point or the point where students get burnt out

-Quality supervision can pay dividends to every client that the supervisee works with

-Don’t forget what it was like to not know anything early in your career!

-Students want to learn and absorb and we can miss out if we don’t grow that for them

-Part of supervision is recognizing we will mess up but focusing on how to repair with clients

-Supervisees have acquired the knowledge and skills and are coming to you to learn their approach and art

-As a supervisor, come from a place of wanting to learn and grow yourself rather than out of obligation

-We are the gatekeepers to the profession so don’t be afraid to have difficult conversations

-One of the best questions you can ask a supervisee is “what was going on inside of you in that moment?”

-Get clear on what your supervisee is hoping to get out of the process

-Time in supervision is just as important as time with clients

Laura’s Links:

Website

Supervisor Support Network Facebook Group