Reflective Mentorship to Support Good Therapy

• Main Authors: Tian-Ng, Rizason G, De Guzman, Jessica Camille A
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2021
• Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Counseling Psychology; Psychology; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/bulatao-conferences/6
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

This study will present the Reflective Mentorship Program by examining the experiences of Brief Psychological Services (BPS) mentees and mentors and how mentorship has impacted their BPS counseling practice and holistic development.Supervision and mentoring involve intervention provided by a senior psychologist to a budding psychologist. Both require expertise and support to ensure competent, ethical practice, and well-being (Bernard & Goodyear, 2014) of new psychologists. Supervision is often task-oriented while mentoring focuses on the new psychologist’s long-term development (Acker, 2011). The success of the supervision lies in the supervisory relationship. However, imbalance in power dynamics can cause distress and self-doubtamong new psychologists that could hinder their practice and development (Wilson et al., 2016). In contrast, mentorship emphasizes a more flexible relationship which incorporates a wide range of personal and professional roles. The Mentorship Program is inspired by Reflective Practice, a process of questioning our ways of being, relating, and acting (Hibbert & Cunliffe, 2015). It utilizes a purposeful self- reflection within the professional role in therapy, and in creating safe spaces within mentorship to validate the person-of-the-therapist. This process is eventually reflected to clients in therapy, and expanded to other relationships. Reflective mentorship framework and its process will be presented.