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The importance of spiritual supervision and mentoring

The importance of spiritual supervision and mentoring

Last updated on: January 25, 2024 at 4:18 pm by Katie Gerrard

The importance of spiritual supervision and mentoring 2024-01-25T16:18:11+00:00 Katie Gerrard

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When you join a spiritual path as part of a group, you join a network of people who support each other. You’re learning together, asking questions together. You’re part of a community.

When that path involves magic and spellcraft, much of that magic may be completed as part of the group. Where it is separate, a member may choose to discuss with the group before they proceed.

But what happens when you learnt your spirituality as a solo practitioner?

Or even from books and online resources?

Whilst I see enormous value in face to face learning, particularly when it comes to energy and invocation, the reality is this just isn’t available to everyone for lots of reasons.

When your spiritual practise is just you, this isn’t an issue, but what happens when you want to do magic for others, or when you turn your divination or healing skills into a business?

And even when you do start out in a group setting, do things change when you make your spiritual work your profession?

This was a question I had to ask myself when Kay Gillard, a healer with decades of professional experience asked, “but who supports us?”

I didn’t have an answer.

As a hypnotherapist, I have a supervisor and a peer support group. Whilst a trainee counsellor, supervision is compulsory.

As a witch, and teacher of witches, there’s no formal supervision process. My work is just as confidential, it’s just as emotionally challenging at times, and my skills can still become outdated and rusty if I don’t keep learning and training.

I’m used to mentoring people who are new to their paths

Or even taking on a new stage, like just beginning to run a group.

But experienced practitioners need help and support too. There will never be a point where I think I know so much no one else can help me or offer advice.

When you work with individuals in a spiritual way, shouldn’t the same confidentiality expectations be in place as when you work with clients in any other way?

So who do we go to, as spiritual practitioners?

As teachers and workshop facilitators?

As healers?

Or Tarot readers?

Who can we talk to in a confidential way about our work?

For me, Kay’s question turned into a wonderful opportunity to be part of a supervision group for spiritual practitioners.

It’s run in a really similar way to my hypnotherapy peer support group and has been invaluable to me within the part of my work which before then didn’t have a support system attached to it.

It’s a place where we can consider ethical dilemmas, where we can understand the limits of our own skills and have access to those who compliment us in those areas.

My confidence in asking for feedback on my work has improved knowing I have a group of people who can support me to understand that feedback and process any emotions that come up from it. (And as someone who can find both good and bad feedback difficult to deal with that’s a huge benefit for me and means I’ve grown my testimonials page!)

Before I started working in the psychology professions I would never have considered the need for supervision within my spiritual work

But it’s not just for beginners or those starting a new path. Support from peers as a solo spiritual business owner or practitioner can be so beneficial.

Having a group I can turn to has made my work more efficient.

If you work in a spiritual capacity, have you ever thought about where you go for support? And where those you turn to for spiritual guidance go to for their support?

About Katie Gerrard

Author of "Seidr: The Gate is Open" and "Odin’s Gateways", Katie Gerrard is a witch working as a hypnotherapist, yoga teacher and workshop facilitator. You can read more about the author here.

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