What does "supervised" look like in therapy?

[lostforgottensoul]

So, my therapist advised me today that there is new training for EMDR and he was going to be taking it at the end of Feb beginning of March. He stated that the government gave more funding for veterans with PTSD and with that is additional new training for EMDR. He is already EMDR certified. This is additional on top of his existing training that lasts an entire week. He said afterwards there is a span of time that he would be supervised. He wanted me, out of all of his patients, to be a part of that. Basically, the way I understood it is he wants me to be the patient that is given EMDR directly after he is done with the training. And I am ok with that. Excited actually to see if this can help the huge array of symptoms I still have. But, I did not clarify what "supervised" meant. There is no 2 way mirror in his office so the only way that I can see him being supervised is if someone sat in there with us (which is what is scaring me - terrifying me actually) or if he recorded the session. Not as uncomfortable and terrifying but yeah, still scary. Last EMDR session was when I had a flashback and jumped backwards clear over the chair and hudled in a corner. I don't want anyone else to even hear me do something like that. I wasn't ready for EMDR at the time and that was a few years ago and an abnormal extreme reaction and I have made big movements foward since but still.

I can clarify with him next week but I am wondering what others have experienced with "supervised session" and what that was like for people. Just thinking of that flat out terrifies me and I am really scared that I will not be able to follow his directions if someone else is in there with us.

 

[barefoot]

When I had supervision - though that was for coaching, not therapy - I recorded (audio only) some sessions and had to send my supervisor each recording. I then chose a specific section of the recording that I wanted to discuss with my supervisor ie a part where I had got stuck or found it difficult or just wanted to get some insight from someone else on what I could have done differently.

It may even be that he doesn’t need to record you and that he can just talk through your sessions with his supervisor?

Not sure whether this is helpful as my example is for coaching supervision not supervision for therapists but I’d be very surprised if they want and expect a supervisor to sit in on your sessions.

Hope you manage to get clarity and reassurance on this from your T soon.

And, of course, you don’t have to agree to it. If, when you get more info about how it will work, it still doesn’t fit comfortably with you, just decline. He has other clients who can do it if you would rather not.

 

[Deleted member 37474]

No no no no no! Would be my response. I feel weird enough during emdr. Plus I would need sessions just to be able to trust the supervisor enough to allow it. So.... it would have to all be free. My T is a supervisor... she is so kind. So maybe the supervisor would be kind as well.

 

[UnicornSightings]

To me it sounds like there’d be someone in the room so they could watch the entire process. Which I’m guessing is why your t asked you. Just say you changed your mind.

 

[EveHarrington]

I was asked to do this while processing and I said no. I was paying good money for therapy and didn’t want to end up wasting time having a student in the room.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I was paying good money for therapy and didn’t want to end up wasting time having a student in the room.

It's not a student. It's a supervisor, more qualified in EMDR then my very qualified therapist. That changes perspective for me a bit.

To me it sounds like there’d be someone in the room so they could watch the entire process. Which I’m guessing is why your t asked you.

Because of HIPPA laws, he'd have to ask for a recording. Because my brother called my therapist, I even know they cannot confirm or deny that you are even a patient there. He didn't have to get my permission to speak to my last insurence carrier's therapist about me (to reup every year) but that is due to signed documents between me and the insurence and the therapist and I. But to advise of anyone else, by mouth, recording, or otherwise, he would have to have my permission and might also need my signature to pass through HIPPA.

I feel weird enough during emdr. Plus I would need sessions just to be able to trust the supervisor enough to allow it.

Yeah, that's sort of my worry. I do feel confident that it is EMDR and EMDR only that they will be speaking about and not my entire trauma but still rather scary to think about. I am in a different place now but still, how long it took me to build trust with my theralist is insane.

With that said, is it smart to turn down brand new EMDR training? After now almost 9 years in therapy and still needing to go weekly? I mean, it's like someone turning down treatment in general. And, he has been wanting to go back to EMDR forever now. Here's our chance to make one big impact. But, then the other side of my mind is really rather freaked out over "supervised".

Not sure whether this is helpful as my example is for coaching supervision not supervision for therapists but I’d be very surprised if they want and expect a supervisor to sit in on your sessions.

It does, thank you! He can almost recite things now after all of this time and he knows I will be freaked even over being taped. But, i do trust my therapist. Ugh, I don't know! Will def have to ask next week what "supervised" means and how he will go about that and will update y'all on that.

 

[Stephernovas]

does his office have a two way mirror? sometimes those are used for others to watch but also an effort to hopefully make the client feel more comfortable

 

[EveHarrington]

It's not a student. It's a supervisor, more qualified in EMDR then my very qualified therapi...

Regardless, I’d still end up with “wasted time” as having someone else in the room would cause hesitation on my part, not freely speaking, etc.

 

[theshadowoftheliving]

I've been with therapists in training, and the sessions were recorded.

In a way, it actually made me feel MORE comfortable - nothing would get said or done that wasn't totally, 100% professional. I think it kept them on their toes. And, it meant that there were more than one brain at work on my case, which was a good thing.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I’d still end up with “wasted time” as having someone else in the room would cause hesitation on my part, not freely speaking, etc.

Agreed if it were a normal session. I wouldn't hesitate to say no (in the room, taped, or freely recalled later doesn't matter) if it were a normal session for that exact reason. But it's EMDR only. Though we didn't get very far, EMDR isn't like a normal free talking session nor does it take the entire seasion. If I remember right it was maybe 10 - 15 mins and much of that is relaxation. Not all of your trauma is brought up in EMDR. Negitive thoughts and ideas and things are but still, it's not the bulk of the trauma. It's not free speaking. It's more or less following, in our case, a highlighter back and forth with your eyes. One thought is worked on at a time.

I do have a lot of reservation about it. Thus why I am asking about it here. But it's important to remember what will and will not be done, discussed, and so forth with that supervisor (in the room, taped, or recalled later). So don't feel like I am blowing off your reply. I'm not. I'm just advising the differences in a normal session of our and one EMDR seasion. I have no idea if that is all EMDR is and if there more to it then what I researched before that one EMDR session and that session itself. There maybe. And I'd love to hear if anyone has EMDR experiences beyond mine were more trauma details are given as that would for certian weigh in my ultimate decision. I'm just advising that it is different then a normal free speaking therapy session is all.

And, it meant that there were more than one brain at work on my case, which was a good thing

Yes, I think this is why he thought of me. I just don't want to be studied, you know? Maybe not such a bad thing as that how we learn new things in mental health and maybe that's part of it too but yeah, having an even more qualified person really looking over the EMDR to ensure that whatever new success they are having is happening. You know?

 

[Suzetig]

It depends, so you do need to ask. I know my T is supervised and for her that means she has someone she discusses her work with. In training sessions might be recorded - you'd need to give written consent and you can withdraw consent at any time (i.e. If something comes up in session that you didn't expect and that you don't want shared). I've never heard of sessions either having the supervisor there to observe or having a viewing mirror/station so I wouldn't expect that.

I'm totally fine with the process of supervision/consultation but wouldn't agree to being recorded or observed.

It's ok to both ask what your T means by supervision and to say no, you don't want to be part of that process.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

It depends, so you do need to ask.

Yeah, I totally will. I have no idea why asking slipped my mind. I guess I was concerned with what he was saying this was in general and how he wanted me to be a part of it and then I remembered some on here saying their sessions were supervised (and you came to mind) and I guess with all of that thinking towards the end of the session and needing to advise my therapist of a lot, it slipped my mind to ask one of the more important things. But I totally will clarify next week.

I'm totally fine with the process of supervision/consultation but wouldn't agree to being recorded or observed.

Yeah, I think if he is just consulting that would make all the difference in how I feel about it. He already discusses me with my PDoc, whom I have never told anything to and she quite literally terrifies me because she is a woman, but I know she knows and I am ok with that as long as nothing is brought up in appointments with her. She has brought up a small bit. Like "how are your suicidal thoughts" and "are you still cutting" and I lied straight through my teeth to her just simply because I am terrified of her and I don't want to talk about it with her. She knows the truth as it's all in my 3 inch thick file. All of my theripist's notes are in there and he has told me that they have discussions about me. I am ok with it as long as I don't have to be the one advising and it remains the elephant in the room. Surely my therapist knows this due to my interactions with my PDoc. But, I guess I am wondering how much trauma gets brought up during EMDR as I know that is the only thing being supervised. Maybe I will start another thread asking that question and that makes a huge difference as well. Free talking and forget all of it but EMDR isn't free talking. And since it is only like 10 mins of the session it can't have another in the room unless they are invited in towards the end of the session. It also requires relaxation and feeling safe and the first time around that was hard for me with my eyes closed with just him in the room and he knows my fear of others. He wrote a letter for a service dog due to that fear. He said he will ensure that I don't go mentally to a place that wouldn't be productive and healing (I don't disossate or get to the point of another flashback). But also, another huge difference is Chopper (my service dog in training for those that don't know) now goes to every session and that is different from the last time we did EMDR. So, I maybe able to deal with another in the room because of that.

Ugh, I just need to ask him because this is all speculation. Sorry guys.