From the author: This article was published on my website: vy-terapevt.org For beginning therapists: Clinical supervision The moment has come when you have either already received a psychological education or are finishing it. You start meeting clients. As a rule, the therapist remembers the first clients and the first sessions, and the feelings and thoughts they evoke for the rest of their lives. What does the client tell you, what does he feel, what does he mean? What are his non-verbal messages: facial expressions, gestures, posture? What do you promise to the client? What do you say - or don't say - to your client? Why are you doing it? What are your feelings? What is your facial expression? As a rule, at the beginning of work, our opinion of ourselves as a therapist fluctuates in a wide range - from: “I am the best therapist in the world, I will immediately help the client,” to: “No matter what I say, the client does not care.” helps; I probably won’t make it as a therapist.” This is why the support and guidance of a clinical supervisor is so important during this time. I will help you understand what is happening in therapy - from your point of view, from the client's point of view. There are different techniques for this, which we will discuss with you, in order to choose the ones that suit you best. This is where the so-called “parallel process” comes into force: to the extent that the supervisor supports you, your faith in yourself, in your ability to help the client, to the same extent you can support the client and help him cope with his problems. Diagnostics is the beginning of the work; Without diagnosis there is no treatment. As far as I know, in Russia only psychiatrists can formally diagnose mental illness; be that as it may, the therapist simply cannot do without diagnostic tools. I will help you learn to understand: what is happening to the client, what lies behind his formulation of the problem? We begin to formulate diagnostic hypotheses in the first session; by the fifth session we confirm – or not – the diagnosis. If this fails, it makes sense to refer the client to a neuropsychologist for testing. Neuropsychological testing is by far the most accurate way to diagnose mental illness without using medical equipment. Confidentiality is critical in creating a framework for therapy—a framework within which the client can change what is not working in his relationship with himself and the world. What do you tell the client about confidentiality in the first session? How do you stipulate cases in which you are obliged to violate confidentiality and call on other people for help? A crisis is a state when a client is so unable to cope with his feelings, thoughts and behavior that he resorts to methods of solving problems that are dangerous to his life or to the lives of others. If a client tells you that he is ready to kill himself or another person - what is your responsibility? The client's crisis evokes strong feelings in the therapist: after all, we sympathize with our clients and want to save them. What can really be done here and what can’t? How to assess the degree of threat to life? What is the sequence of actions; Who will you call for help to save the life of a client if the threat is real? How do you calm yourself to calm the client? I will help you find answers to these questions. And, of course, it is important to understand: which clients are you ready to work with and which are you not? And do you, at this point in your professional development, have the opportunity to choose? How do you take care of yourself while taking care of clients? Unfortunately, therapists who dedicate their lives to helping others often forget about themselves. I will never tire of reminding you: don’t forget to take care of yourself. Evgenia Feldshtern, clinical supervisor, psychologist, therapist