The first goal of professional supervision is the safety of the client, both within the relationship with the therapist/professional and within their own lives.
Confidentiality is the beginning. The client also needs to understand high ethical standards and appropriate boundaries and why these are important, even in their own lives.
I find that teaching energetic boundaries is a quick and effective means for the client really understanding what it means to have good boundaries. I spend at least one session exploring their current physical and energetic boundaries on all four sides of the body and then teaching them how to expand and contract them. We revisit the issue on a regular basis until the client is proficient with setting their boundaries consciously and reflectively as well as understanding when to do what.
Within the somatic and intuitive arts, boundary settling can be difficult as you are touching the client and/or working within their energy fields.
The therapist/professional must have their own boundaries intact. When a boundary issue comes up, a willingness to be open and address the client’s needs honestly and clearly is key. As the professional, I invite the client to examine and share in working out the appropriate energy boundary. If we can’t work out good boundaries, then I must be willing to let the client go.
After establishing effective boundaries, then the professional’s task is to support the client in clarifying and addressing their appropriate needs. Your clients deserve the best that you can give them: hearing them well, monitoring the relationship, creative problem solving, good communication skills, and action plans.
I also like to work with my supervisees to enhance their ability to consciously read energy. This is a tool that is fun; can be taught to their client when appropriate, helping them immeasurably; and decreases secondary PTSD for the professional.
Good supervision gives you the support for working effectively with your client by providing a place to explore your feelings, instinct, and knowledge while receiving objective feedback and guidance. It allows you to both learn from self, your supervisor, and points you to other resources to build needed skills and further professional development.