Hopfner & Associates

WELLNESS-FOCUSED CLINICAL CONSULTATION: FAQS

 

Q1: What is Wellness-Focused Clinical Consultation?

 

When you think of “clinical consultation”, what comes to your mind?

 

When people hear the word "clinical consultation”, they often think of talking to a supervisor when they are experiencing some challenges with clients, in need of some input to improve the situations.

 

This, of course is very important part of clinical consultation, however, it is only a small part.

 

Clinical consultation can also be about: 

        1. Maintenance

        2. Prevention

        3. Crisis Management

        4. Nurturing

        5. Self-care

        6. Team Building

 

1.Maintenance 

Having regular opportunities to go over ongoing cases regardless of having difficulties with them or not helps you to maintain the quality of your work because it gives you: 1) a good understanding of overall picture of your entire case load, 2) a chance to monitor/validate your progress, 3) opportunities to explore certain themes that are reoccurring in your work (either in your clients or in yourself) that could be meaningful to look at.

 

2.Prevention

Having regular opportunities to go over ongoing cases regardless of having difficulties with them or not helps you to prevent crisis situations from happening in the first place.

 

3.Crisis Management

Having access to clinical consultation/supervision during and/or after crisis situations help you: 1) to build competence in managing crisis situations, 2) to have the much needed opportunities (but unfortunately often neglected) to debrief yourself after experiencing such situations, even when you feel "“I am OK".”

 

4.Nurturing

Having regular clinical consultation/supervision is more than just about ”your cases.” Just as any effective human services are, the core of clinical consultation is a meaningful relationship that begins with you and your needs.  It is about “you” as a person, as well as professional. It is about what you are, what you want to be and what you can become. It is of course, NOT “therapy” for you; however, quality consultation can provide you with a safe and nurturing opportunity for you to reflect on yourself which facilitates your learning and growth. 

 

5.Self-care

Having regular clinical consultation/supervision is one of the great defences against “"burn out".” We are all too familiar with the high turn-over in this line of work. It is often the case that competent professionals with passion and gifts in serving people suffer from stress, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma, resulting in burn out. Having access to quality clinical consultation/supervision on regular basis gives you opportunities to monitor/manage your stress level, in order to strength your “self-care system” which contributes to your ongoing sense of well-being.

 

6.Team Building

Having access to regular group consultation/supervision, which consists of the qualities listed above, can be a quite powerful group experience. It is often reported that it is one of the wonderful ways to build the team, trust and more meaningful relationship amongst team members, which contributes to your sense of well-being as a “working community” within your work place which increases effectiveness as a team.