Growing as a Supervisor: A Student's Success Story
For Joanna Heap, a recent graduate of our Clinical Supervision course, enrolling on the programme proved to be a transformative step in her professional development, strengthening both her confidence and effectiveness as a supervisor.
Although already qualified as a supervisor, Joanna, recognised there was still more to learn. “I had always felt there was something missing and wanted a course that would deepen my understanding and confidence in the role,” she explained. “This course gave me exactly that.”
Joanna chose the Clinical Supervision course at Peter Symonds College because of the tutor’s reputation for professionalism, expertise and support, as well as the course’s integrative approach, accessible structure and manageable group size. These elements created an environment where learners could develop their skills in depth while benefiting from meaningful peer discussion and reflection.
Throughout the programme, Joanna gained a broader understanding of supervisory practice, professional standards and the expectations placed on supervisors across the counselling profession.
“I loved the course,” she said. “It gave me a much deeper insight into the role of the supervisor and expanded my knowledge of working with different modalities in both individual and group supervision.”
Since completing the qualification, the impact for Joanna has been significant. She now supervises individuals, groups and trainee counsellors, applying her learning across a range of settings. “The training continues to positively influence both my supervisory and clinical practice,” she said. “I feel much more confident and grounded in the role because of this training.”
Reflecting on her experience, she encourages others to take the next step in their professional development: “I would highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to develop their supervisory practice further and grow as an integrative and reflective supervisor.”
Our next Clinical Supervision course starts in September and is led by expert tutor, Di Hardiman (MA Dip Supervision PGCE MBACP). The course is for practicing counsellors or psychotherapists who wish to gain the skills and knowledge to become effective and ethical counselling supervisors. Find out more here: Diploma in Clinical Supervision: Peter Symonds College
Posted: 13 January 2026
For further information about this article or about the Adult Education Division in general, please contact us on ahed@psc.ac.uk.