How can you use a trauma-informed supervision model to support supervisees working with trauma survivors?

1 What is trauma-informed supervision?

Trauma-informed supervision is a supervision model that recognizes the impact of trauma on both clients and social workers, and that integrates the knowledge and skills of trauma-informed practice into the supervisory relationship. It is not a specific technique or method, but rather a framework that guides the supervisor and the supervisee to create a safe, respectful, and empowering environment that fosters learning, growth, and resilience. Trauma-informed supervision also acknowledges the diversity and complexity of trauma experiences, and the need for cultural humility and competence.

2 Why is trauma-informed supervision important?

Trauma-informed supervision is important because working with trauma survivors can be challenging, rewarding, and stressful for social workers. It can expose them to the stories, emotions, and behaviors of clients who have suffered abuse, violence, loss, or oppression, and who may struggle with coping, trust, and recovery. This can affect the social workers' own well-being, professional identity, and ethical decision-making, and potentially lead to vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, or secondary traumatic stress. Trauma-informed supervision can help social workers to prevent or address these issues, by providing them with emotional support, clinical guidance, and professional development.

3 How to implement trauma-informed supervision?

Trauma-informed supervision can be implemented by following some key steps and strategies, such as establishing clear roles and boundaries between the supervisor and supervisee, building a trusting and collaborative relationship, using active listening, reflective feedback, and open-ended questions to facilitate the supervisee's self-awareness, encouraging the use of trauma-informed principles and practices in their work with clients, supporting the supervisee's professional growth and learning, and promoting their self-care and wellness. Establishing a comfortable frequency, duration, and format of supervision sessions is necessary to ensure both parties are comfortable. The supervisor should validate the supervisee's emotions and experiences while providing relevant resources, training, and opportunities to enhance their knowledge on trauma-related topics. Finally, helping the supervisee to identify and manage stressors while accessing sources of support and resilience is essential for promoting their wellness.

4 What are the benefits of trauma-informed supervision?

Trauma-informed supervision can have many benefits for both the supervisor and the supervisee, such as improving the quality and effectiveness of services provided to trauma survivors, increasing satisfaction and retention of social workers, and strengthening the supervisory relationship and organizational culture. This can be achieved by enhancing the social workers' competence, confidence, and compassion; reducing their risk of burnout, moral distress, and ethical dilemmas; increasing their sense of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment; fostering a climate of mutual respect, trust, and collaboration; and supporting a shared vision and mission of trauma-informed practice.

5 What are the challenges of trauma-informed supervision?

Trauma-informed supervision can present some challenges to both the supervisor and the supervisee, such as balancing the needs and goals of the supervisee, client, and organization, as well as dealing with the emotional and cognitive demands of processing trauma-related issues. Furthermore, finding the time, resources, and support to implement and sustain trauma-informed supervision can be difficult in busy, underfunded, or understaffed settings.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?