Running your practice

Choosing and using supervision when you work alone online

Working alone online removes the informal contact you would get in a shared building — the corridor conversations, the colleague you catch between sessions. Supervision is the structured professional relationship that fills that gap. This guide covers the logistics of finding, contracting and organising supervision as a solo practitioner working with adult clients. It is about process, not about what you bring to a session.

What supervision is, in professional-practice terms

In the counselling and psychotherapy professions, supervision is a regular, formal arrangement in which a practitioner reflects on their work with an experienced supervisor. Professional bodies treat it as an ongoing requirement of practice rather than something reserved for early careers or difficult periods.

The professional bodies are the authority on what supervision is and how much of it you need. Their public pages set out their expectations, so start with the body you are registered with:

Faresay does not set, certify or check supervision. What counts as enough, and in what form, is defined by your body and your registration — always check their current requirements rather than relying on a summary anywhere else.

Frequency and hours

Bodies publish their own minimum expectations, which vary by body, by membership category and by how much clinical work you do. Some express this as a monthly minimum; some scale it to your caseload; some set additional requirements tied to accreditation. Because these figures change and differ between organisations, treat your body's own current page as the definitive source and check it when your circumstances change — for example, if your caseload grows or you take on a new client group.

Finding a supervisor

As a solo practitioner you are choosing your own supervisor rather than being assigned one, so it is worth being deliberate. The professional bodies maintain directories you can search:

When you shortlist supervisors, practical fit matters as much as availability: their experience relative to the kind of work you do, whether they are comfortable working remotely, their fees, and whether their availability matches your working pattern. Many practitioners hold an introductory conversation with one or two supervisors before committing, to check the working relationship feels right. Faresay does not provide, match or vet supervisors — the choice is yours to make and your body's standards are the reference point.

Formats: individual, group and peer

Supervision comes in more than one shape, and the formats can be combined:

Individual supervision is one-to-one with a supervisor and gives you dedicated time.
Group supervision is led by a supervisor with several supervisees, which shares cost and exposes you to a wider range of perspectives.
Peer supervision is arranged between practitioners of similar standing, without a designated supervisor.

Bodies differ in how, and how much, each format counts towards their expectations, so check what your registration allows before relying on a particular mix. For someone working alone, a combination — regular individual supervision plus a peer group — is a common way to reduce isolation while meeting requirements.

Remote supervision, practically

If you work online, remote supervision is a natural fit, and it opens up supervisors beyond your immediate area. The practicalities mirror any professional video call:

Use a private, quiet space for the session, as you would for client work.
Agree the platform and a fallback in case the connection drops.
Confirm how any notes or shared documents are handled and stored.
Diarise sessions well ahead — remote arrangements can drift without a shared calendar.

Some bodies expect a degree of in-person or "live" contact alongside remote sessions; this is another point to confirm against your body's current guidance rather than assume.

Contracting

A supervision contract is the working agreement between you and your supervisor, and it is worth putting in writing at the outset. A typical contract covers the frequency and length of sessions, fees and payment, how sessions are booked and cancelled, the format, confidentiality and its limits, how records are kept, and how either party would end the arrangement. Agreeing these terms early prevents misunderstandings later and gives you a document to revisit if circumstances change.

Keeping records of supervision

Bodies commonly ask practitioners to keep a record of their supervision, and to be able to evidence it — for example at renewal or if your practice is audited. A simple, consistent log is enough for the administrative purpose: the date, the supervisor, the length of the session, and the format. Keep it somewhere secure and up to date so that producing evidence is a quick task rather than a reconstruction. What you record here is the fact of supervision for your own professional administration, kept to whatever standard your body requires.

In short

Supervision is a professional relationship you set up and maintain deliberately when you work alone. Decide the format mix, choose a supervisor through your body's directory, agree a written contract, keep a tidy record — and let your professional body, not any software or third party, be the authority on what is required.