Professional Disclosure Statement for Supervision

Supervisor: Oral Kiffiak

Supervisor Contact Information:

Full contact information can be provided upon request. Please Contact us.

About Oral Kiffiak:

Your supervisor is Oral Kiffiak, M.A.. I have a Masters in Counselling and Psychology from Providence Theological Seminary, Manitoba.  I am certified and am an approved supervisor with The Professional Association of Canadian Christian Counsellors (PACCC).  I have been counselling since 2000 in private practice and various organizations.

About Supervision:

Supervision has two goals: the development of the skills of the supervisee and the protection of the public.  These are always operating simultaneously when supervision is occurring.  Most of the time it seems that the primary attention is being paid to developing skills.  When this is so, it is because a judgement is being made that the second goal is being satisfactory met.  When there is any question about the adequacy of the care that the client(s) is receiving, supervision will become more active and intrusive.  Supervision also includes the supervisor operating in the counsellor role.  This is not to be confused with the actual doing of therapy.  This means that the style of interaction will be intended to elicit your intrigue with your thoughts and feelings and reactions in your professional role. The goal of this is to increase your effectiveness and competence.  At no time will supervision include counselling or psychotherapy.  If a need for that is recognized your supervisor will indicate that and suggest a referral to a counsellor or psychotherapist.

About my Supervision Style and Theoretical Orientation:

My supervisory style is collaborative, trusting in the synergy of wisdom from both the supervisor and the supervisee pursuing the best in the supervisee for the counselee(s). My theoretical orientation to supervision is developmental.  I believe that supervisees change and develop as they progress through their clinical experiences.  Generally, supervisors-in-training who are more seasoned will experience less 'teacher' role and more ‘consultant' role. In my clinical work my theoretical orientation is integrative.  I make reasoned judgements about what theoretical approach fits the client's self-understanding and understanding the problem.  My responsibilities in the supervision work include monitoring client welfare, counsellor welfare, and teaching counselling skills.  Providing regular verbal and written feedback and evaluation, and ensuring compliance with legal, ethical, and professional standards.

About the Structure of Supervision:

The structure of our supervision will depend and be constructed collaboratively based on the needs and availability of both supervisor and supervisee.  Normally post-graduate supervision does not include tape review and written critique.  More commonly, supervision sessions will include discussion of cases, particularly challenging or problematic ones with some structure to provide session-to-session continuity.

About Confidentiality:

The issues you discuss in supervision will be confidential with the following exceptions:

1. Your performance and conduct in this clinical experience will be described in general terms to PACCC if you request that in writing. This may be requested if the supervision is in pursuit of PACCC Certification.
2. If I am asked in writing by you to provide information about your clinical experience in the form of a recommendation for a job, licensure, or certification.
3. Disclosures made in-group supervision cannot be absolutely guaranteed as confidential. Although I will take every measure to encourage confidentiality and act appropriately if confidentiality is not upheld.
4. Disclosures related to threats to harm self or others, reasonable suspicion of child or vulnerable person abuse, when ordered by a court of law. These exceptions are established by provincial or federal law.

About Assessment:

Formal assessments of your professional work will be done intermittently and a summative assessment will be made at the end of the working relationship.  You will receive a copy of this assessment instrument at the beginning of the working relationship.  However, verbal and/or written feedback will be given throughout the entire clinical experience by a variety of other means.

About shared and unique responsibilities:

Both parties hold a responsibility to work toward the protection of the clients involved, and to making the supervisory relationship effective.  Both resolve to work constructively to troubleshoot problematic dynamics if they occur.

The Supervisee is responsible to:

1. Prepare for and attend sessions.
2. Complete any assigned task or learning exercises between sessions.
3. Keep supervisor informed regarding client issues and progress.

The Supervisor is responsible to:

1. Prepare for and attend all sessions.
2. Provide regular feedback and a formal assessment at the conclusion of the supervisory relationship.
3. Review supervisee's case notes or other materials for quality control purposes.

Commencing supervision can seem daunting and intimidating. Most people find however that it is the most important phase of their professional formation and that it is exciting, stimulating and affirming. I look forward to our work together and to celebrating your professional progress.