Who’s Supporting You? Reflective Supervision to Nurture Professionals in Infant and Early Childhood

As an infant and early childhood professional, you know a child’s early relationships are important. Early childhood educators, social workers, and therapists play an essential role in supporting the growth and development of infants and young children.?

Your job as a professional caregiver is challenging. You’re constantly teaching, supporting, and nurturing. No one can deny the impact you have on children.???

And that’s a lot of pressure.??

It’s not surprising your job requires a certain level of emotional wellness.?

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As a practitioner supporting children and families:?

• Who nurtures you????
• What do you do when you feel emotionally depleted??
• When is it okay to express your reactions and feelings about the children and families you work with??
• Where do you go for support??
• How do you feel seen and heard??

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At South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association (SCIMHA), we understand the work you do with children and families isn’t easy. We promote Reflective Supervision and Consultation (RSC) to nurture practitioners so they can have a safe space to reflect on their feelings and reactions about their daily work. Practitioners like you deserve a judgment-free space to care for your mental health and avoid burnout.?

That's why we're digging into RSC, its guiding principles, benefits, and how to get started.?

What is Reflective Supervision and Consultation??

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RSC is a professional development practice. It supports professionals working with:??

• Expectant families?
• Infants?
• Young children?
• Families with young children?

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The practice encourages reflection by examining thoughts, feelings, and reactions while working with these families.??

RSC provides practitioners like you the opportunity to engage in a secure, trusting, and consistent learning relationship that offers continued support throughout your career.1 Different from traditional performance-based supervisory practices, RSC places value on exploration, reflection, and support through relational health.??

This brings us to the four main principles of this beneficial practice.?

The guiding principles of Reflective Supervision and Consultation.?

There are four guiding principles of RSC. These principles have helped countless supervisors and practitioners in their work with young children and families.?

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1. Relationships??

Relationships are at the heart of RSC. Throughout this practice, many relationships are being held in mind, especially those of:??

• Supervisor and practitioner??
• Practitioner and parent?
• Parent and child?

A central concept in RSC is understanding that each relationship impacts the other. This concept is called the parallel process.??

When a supervisor is able to hold space for the emotional experiences of their supervisee, that practitioner is able to do the same for the caregivers they support. As a caregiver feels seen and heard, they are able to be with the emotional experiences of the infant or young child in their care. Reflective practices allow for a deepened understanding of how practitioners can intentionally impact relationships.?

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2. Self-awareness??

Self-awareness in the practice of RSC develops with time. Being aware of your strengths, limits, and vulnerabilities allows you to make mid-course changes. This way, your work performance feels natural, unforced, and developed from within.

In a nurturing environment, self-awareness is a byproduct of reflective practice.?

When practitioners like you feel safe and supported, they’re more open to exploring feelings, biases, and limiting beliefs. This leads to further discussion, reflection, and open expression. Introspection is a necessary component of reflective practice.?

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3. Active listening and conscious questioning??

Active listening and conscious questioning between a supervisor and practitioner are important in this process. Both require curiosity and patience.?

As helpers by nature, it’s instinctual to want to solve a problem for someone else. But, as the practitioner, you’d miss an opportunity to develop problem-solving skills when the supervisor jumps in to fix a problem.???

Instead, active listening and conscious questioning support you as the practitioner on your journey to exploring your feelings and solving problems. ??

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4. Nonjudgmental communication??

Nonjudgmental communication is required in the practice and process of RSC. Judgment of others and self-judgment are destructive to effective reflective practice.??

As a practitioner, your acceptance evolves out of the practice of RSC. Especially when it comes to:??

• Cultural norms?
• Family dynamics?
• Religious beliefs?

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When you feel seen, heard, and supported, you’ll incorporate the same acceptance into relationships with your clients.???

The benefits of reflective practice in supervision.?

?RSC is a holistic, inquisitive approach to professional development. There might be early resistance to the process. But, supervisors and practitioners become invested in the process when they see results.??

?Here are some results supervisors and practitioners experience when practicing RSC:?

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• Reduced burnout and stress: The emotional toll of professional caregiving can be overwhelming. You need a safe space to express your thoughts and feelings. RSC practices offer support. These practices produce resilient caregivers of small children and their families.??

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• Strengthened communication skills: Communication skills are fine-tuned during this process. Speaking about experiences, feelings, and thoughts improve as your RSC evolves.???

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• Increased empathy: You are more effective when you’re able to approach clients with empathy. RSC promotes empathy at all levels and enhances the parallel process.?

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• Improved problem-solving and decision-making: RSC encourages collaborative problem-solving. Supervisors and practitioners learn how to ask for help when faced with a challenge. You work together to find solutions.?

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• Enhanced client results: A practitioner supported through RSC is more focused. This helps you become better equipped to support your clients.?

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These are only some of the many benefits you can experience with RSC. Now that you understand reflective practice, learn how we can help get you started.?

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Get Reflective Supervision and Consultation support today.??

To learn more about best practices and dig deeper into RSC, SCIMHA offers training through our Reflective Supervision Learning Collaborative (RSLC). Participants complete the program and are ready to implement RSC in their own programs.?

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RSLC is a 12-month program that includes:???

• Learning sessions?
• Web-based reflection experiences?
• Active implementation phases?

Supervisors in child welfare programs, early care and education, early intervention, and home visiting can benefit.?

Check here for information about SCIMHA’s RSLC and how to get started.?

Watch our video with even more information about RSC.?

RSC is a practice that benefits supervisors, practitioners, children, and families.??

It starts with relationship building and trust. It continues with collaboration and investment in the process.?

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Sources?

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1 Best Practice Guidelines?

2 Zero To Three?