Katie Crabtree is a coach supervisor and leads the EMCC UK project looking at mental health and wellbeing issues in a supervision context. In this post, Katie explores how these issues now arise more frequently in supervision, and what supervisors can do to stay well-resourced in response. Katie shares EMCC UK’s plans to support supervisors in this space, including a new resource hub on our website which members can find here:
Mental health and wellbeing resources for coaching supervision
In recent years, the landscape of coaching supervision has experienced significant shifts, particularly in the realm of mental health and wellbeing. Coach supervisors are increasingly encountering mental health and wellbeing issues within supervision sessions, from supervisees and their clients, as well as having their own wellbeing needs. The aircraft oxygen mask analogy is highly relevant for coaching supervisors, as we need to ensure we are well-resourced ourselves before helping others. Coach supervisors can put on our oxygen masks by prioritising self-care, self-awareness and self-preparation. We are then better positioned to effectively support others, while also role-modelling the importance of proactively attending to personal wellbeing.
Support for mental health and wellbeing issues arising in coaching and mentoring contexts is growing, yet there are currently fewer resources addressing this specifically from a supervision perspective. This is a gap EMCC UK wants to address, including via our Supervision special interest group. A crucial first step is identifying and acknowledging the responsibilities coaching supervisors have in relation to the mental health and wellbeing of their supervisees, and their supervisees’ clients.
Coaching supervision is a multi-faceted process, and the three core supervision functions play a crucial role in addressing mental health and wellbeing issues when working with supervisees:
Restorative function – the restorative function focuses on providing emotional support to coaches. This aspect of supervision is critical when dealing with mental health and wellbeing issues, as it helps coaches manage their own emotional responses and stress. By creating a safe and supportive environment, coach supervisors can help their supervisees process their feelings and experiences, reducing the risk of burnout and enhancing their overall wellbeing.
Normative function – the normative function involves ensuring that coaches are adhering to ethical and professional standards. When mental health and wellbeing issues arise, coach supervisors need to support their supervisees in acting ethically and maintaining professional boundaries. This includes recognising when a situation is beyond their scope of practice and requires –for example, in a referral to a mental health professional – and how to do this sensitively and ethically.
Formative function – the formative function is centred on the development and growth of coaches’ skills and competencies. In the context of mental health and wellbeing, this means, for example, equipping coaches with the tools and knowledge they need to handle such issues effectively. This can include training on recognising signs of mental health struggles, understanding the impact of systemic issues, and learning strategies for supporting clients who are experiencing mental health challenges. It can also involve supporting coaches to develop their own capacities to tolerate a client’s natural distress or upset, without rushing to pathologise or refer on prematurely.
Staying well resourced is key for us as coach supervisors to effectively support our supervisees in dealing with mental health and wellbeing issues. This can involve several key components:
Awareness and education – coach supervisors can stay informed about the latest developments in mental health and wellbeing by continually updating their awareness of best practices and having access to up-to-date information and resources. This can include understanding common mental health issues impacting coaches and their clients, such as burnout and trauma. In addition to focusing on individual wellbeing, coach supervisors can increase awareness of broader issues that can impact the mental health of supervisees and their clients. This might include, for example, systemic discrimination such as racism, and learning about the dynamics of organisational trauma.
Self-care strategies – given the emotional demands of dealing with mental health and wellbeing issues, we can protect our own wellbeing as coach supervisors by developing robust self-care strategies. This supports our resilience and capacity to provide the best supervision we can. Self-care can include regular supervision for ourselves, peer support, mindfulness practices, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Creating a supportive community – there is a growing need to create safe spaces for coach supervisors to come together to explore mental health and wellbeing issues with peers. Such a community can provide a forum for sharing experiences, discussing challenges, and gaining insights from others who are facing similar issues. Peer support can be an invaluable resource, offering encouragement and reducing feelings of isolation.
Continuing professional development – CPD opportunities are important for us as coach supervisors to stay current and effective in our roles. CPD can include workshops, seminars, online courses, and conferences focused on mental health and wellbeing. This might involve training in specific techniques, learning how to facilitate difficult conversations, and understanding when to refer a case to a mental health professional. Developing the necessary skills to competently deal with mental health and wellbeing in supervision sessions helps supervisors increase their confidence when such issues arise. Examples include the development of wide-angled empathy, reflective practices, systemic awareness and cognitive flexibility.
To support coach supervisors in this evolving landscape, EMCC UK is looking to provide useful resources, a peer community space, and CPD opportunities related to mental health and wellbeing in coaching supervision contexts.
Resources for coach supervisors – we have curated resources on mental health and wellbeing relevant to coaching supervision contexts which can be found here: Mental health and wellbeing resources for coaching supervision. The resources available offer a wealth of information and tools to support coach supervisors in their vital work. This includes:
Future plans – looking ahead, we plan to create safe spaces where coach supervisors can explore mental health and wellbeing issues with peers. These dedicated forums will provide opportunities for open dialogue, peer support, and shared learning. We also plan to provide a series of short CPD events for supervisors focusing on mental health and wellbeing topics. The first of these is a panel event on 17 September on trauma-informed supervision, organised by the EMCC UK Supervision special interest group. Find out more and register here: Trauma informed perspectives in supervision.
Our Health & Wellbeing special interest group is also hosting an open session on 25 September to discuss our roles as EMCC coaches, mentors and supervisors in relation to mental health and wellbeing. Find out more and register here: Mental health and wellbeing: our role as EMCC coaches, mentors and supervisors.
These initiatives are intended to support all of us in responding appropriately, safely and confidently in the face of what can sometimes be – as we know – distressing situations. We would also love to hear from you about the resources or content you would like to see more of in this area, or if you can recommend relevant resources you have found useful in your supervision practice.
Meanwhile, please visit our resources webpage, and feel free to make contact with any feedback or suggestions by emailing here: supervision.sig@emccuk.org
Katie Crabtree is an EMCC senior practitioner coach and coach supervisor. She is also a chartered coaching psychologist and registered supervisor with the British Psychological Society, and an accredited member of the International Society of Coaching Psychology. Katie is certified as an MBTI practitioner, a mindfulness teacher, and a strengths and resilience practitioner. She offers coaching supervision services and CPD opportunities through her private practice, The Coaching Supervisor. She also co-directs a coaching and consulting business, Lead North, which provides a variety of coaching and training services. Katie is currently finalising her PhD at Newcastle University, where her research has led to key insights into how socio-cognitive mindfulness can be applied in coaching to improve wellbeing. This research has been presented at national and international conferences and published in coaching journals.
Photo by Alex Green
EMCC UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee
Registration no. 05625451
Registered address: 87 North Road, Poole, Dorset BH14 0LT
VAT no. 891919474
