Mentoring and Supervision for Bodywork Practitioners

About Mentoring and Supervision

Supervision or Mentoring is an important aspect of any profession, especially one that can be as isolating as bodywork. Practitioners tend to be found working one-on-one with clients and unless you are part of a particularly well-structured organization that routinely provides check-ins and support, the ability to connect and debrief with colleagues or mentors is often extremely limited.

Most of us were delivered to our profession by our respective programs with the capability to provide excellent bodywork and massage to our clients, but a formal framework for professional support, extending into and beyond our first years as practitioners is basically non-existent.

While peer-to-peer mentoring can be found in numerous places (online in professional Facebook groups or in person at events put together by professional organizations such as conventions) or in informal small local groups organized by motivated individuals, what often lacks is consistency, availability and the guidance of someone with greater experience. So, many of us have muddled our way through our journeys as bodyworkers. We have, perhaps, sought feedback or explored ideas with valued teachers or particularly respected colleagues, but often this support can feel difficult to ask for and sometimes feels fragmentary or hurried when sought.

Enter professional mentorship and/ or supervision, which provides a safe and consistent resource to support you in your professional development.

We all do (or will) face challenges having to do with our work and our practices and having someone with which to sift through thoughts, feelings and various conundrums can be extremely useful. Mentoring/ Supervision can be done in small groups or individually. It can be a short check-in/ brainstorm or a longer growth process. Both individual sessions and group sessions are geared to the needs of the individual or group with Amy providing structure and guidance.

Below are just a few examples of the types of issues that can be addressed with formal Mentoring or Supervision.

  • Exploring the quality of your own work.
  • How best to bring yourself fully to your practice without getting overwhelmed.
  • Complex client guidance
  • Ethical conundrums (transference, countertransference, etc)
  • Burnout/ Plateau
  • Client or Colleague Relationships

Benefits

Mentoring and Supervision for Bodywork Practitioners offers a safe, supportive environment for you to explore challenges, clarify and define issues and to collaborate on solutions that will create more ease, balance and joy in your practice. We will work together, one-to-one or in small groups, to provide clarity and support for your evolution as a practitioner and a professional.

Some benefits of Mentoring/ Supervision include feeling supported and connected to the larger bodywork community. This type of professional development work allows time for deeper exploration of topics of interest or ethical dilemmas. The ability to dive deeply into specific subjects will increase both proficiency and comprehension which often leads to increased efficiency and enjoyment in your practice. You can think of Mentoring and Supervision for Bodywork Practitioners as a way to “level up” efficiently and quickly.

Please note: Often, when engaging in a process of professional development we notice overlap with areas of personal development. Issues about money or self worth, boundary setting and time management do not fall neatly into compartmentalized categories of “Personal” versus “Professional”. With that in mind, these individual or group sessions are intended to support the professional development of bodyworkers and are not a substitute for counseling or therapy. Please refer to my resources page for a list of somatic leaning mental health practitioners.

Individual Mentoring/ Supervision

One-on- sessions are best for individuals dealing with specific issues in your practice. This may be anything from business coaching, or therapeutic strategies for a particular client to untangling a tricky ethical situation or simply some anatomy and technique review.

I offer a 15 min phone consultation free of charge. I can get a sense of what it is that you are seeking and let you know what support I can offer. Often it’s enough time to address a pressing question and if more time is needed, individual hour sessions are $80.00. 

 Group Mentoring/ Supervision:

This is a great option for people wanting a more collaborative experience, who are seeking support while on a budget or for a small group of folks with a shared interest in a particular topic that they wish to explore deeply with an experienced facilitator.

Small group Mentoring sessions are ideally done weekly for a predetermined number of weeks (often 4 – 6 weeks) and focuses on a particular subject or set of subjects.

Minimum of 4 participants / 2 hours / 25.00 per hour per participant.

Please contact me directly if you would like to organize and schedule a Mentoring group.