Testimonials

In the short period I’ve been privileged to work with Deb, I’ve been able to develop and grow my education-based, trauma-sensitive social work practice more than within any other supervisory relationship. With her experience in the trauma-field, she understands the importance of relationship and connection, and respects the time required to connect with you first as a person behind the professional, and how to safely explore how and why our subjective experiences in life ultimately shape our professional approaches and the practice issues that can at times emerge as a result. Her clinical supervisory frameworks encourage you to critically reflect on your values and the role these play in both our day-to-day work practices, while supporting to reframe challenges and conflicts through highlighting our unique strengths, and how these can be tapped into to problem-solve and ultimately overcome work-related stresses. Working with Deb has had a profound impact on my confidence and assertiveness in my own professional practice and skills, my faith in the value and importance of clinical supervision, and has allowed me the safety and security to be able to begin exploring, setting and achieving career goals and to fall back in love with social work again after significant burnout. I am endlessly grateful for Deb’s guidance, and the opportunity to continue working with her on my own professional journey. 

 “Supervision is about reflecting on my own professional practice; what’s going well, not so well and how to manage it all. It offers me validation. It should not only be used at the point of a crisis and crisis intervention but more as a preventive measure to ensure optimal health and wellbeing. Deb challenges and broadens my thinking and draws my attention to some of my own habitual patterns of behaviour. This has been a hugely beneficial. It is more than debriefing. I see it as such a wonderful opportunity that is supported by my workplace.”  

Throughout my teaching career I have likened being in the classroom to being in the trenches; in the thick of the action, putting into play carefully thought out strategies and content, while being flexible and dynamic to the changing conditions of the classroom. To be a good teacher you need to be attuned to your student’s needs which often causes a state of hyper vigilance.

The way we talk about and approach teaching has changed dramatically since I started 25 years ago. We used to talk about classroom management and discipline; student behaviour was ours to control. Now we talk about trauma informed practice, we have grown to understand all behaviour is a form of communication and student/teacher relationships are key to creating a calm, positive learning environment. It is no wonder the art of teaching is emotionally, physically, intellectually and psychologically exhausting. It is no wonder teachers succumb to burn out.

I used to believe that venting with my colleagues was all the support I needed. However this at times kept me stuck in the same thought processes that were not serving me well. Supervision with Deb has created a safe space to engage in dialogue that incorporates reflective practice, challenging perceptions and preconceived notions, and reframing thought processes. These sessions have given me a sense of calm with my often chaotic inner dialogue. Supervision with Deb helps me identify and name the frustrations that I am feeling and most importantly helps me develop a plan and/or strategies in which to deal with them. I always feel lighter, clear headed and energised after supervision. Without looking at my calendar I can feel when I am due for my next session. Supervision has helped me stay in this exhausting, yet rewarding profession.

 Deb, Your warmth and engaging presentation style, your credibility in working in schools and your skill in teaching others was evident to all and was a significant contributor to the outcomes. I’m so glad you are providing supervision also. 

I have been a social worker for over 40 years and absolutely know that there is not enough Supervisors around that have enough of the theory, professional tenacity and knowledge that has been able to challenge me and be supportive all at the same time. I have found this with Deb and have been absolutely blown away by experiences with her.  2023

Deb has been able to assist my professional practice into a theoretical structure that has allowed me to consolidate my own experiences and support my self-care. After my supervision sessions, I didn’t feel so overwhelmed, and it kept me going until the next time when my ‘tank’ would be full again. 

Thank you for gently guiding me through, what was the most difficult year of my professional life last year…the time I had talking with you about everything helped me immensely.  You are so good at what you do Deb, you helped me see what is possible.  I will always be grateful for your guidance.

 Supervision is such an important part of working in human centered professions, allowing for critical reflection, on not only on the work we engage in, but oneself within the work. Through my work in supervision with Deb I was able to understand, plan and support myself in my role in the education department. Deb was able to help me with practical strategies for organising work practices, dealing with conflict and relationships in the workplace and debriefing sometimes traumatic situations in a complex work environment. After supervision with Deb, I felt supported and grounded and walked away from every session with a bit of a plan on actions to take or reflections on different ways to approach my work and thinking.

 I had the lovely experience of being reassured that I am doing good work at keeping my team inspired – it really boosted my confidence as I’ve been struggling with the question “Am I good at my job?”

Some strategies were explored about keeping teams accountable, connected, respectful and professional.