Liz White: Consultant

Agency Staff

Action methods and sociometric theory provide useful tools for work in consulting. They provide agency staffs and individual supervisees with ways to discover their strengths and to develop some creative new responses to challenging situations. Mapping out the staff's dynamics in a supportive and creative way provides the group with information about itself, and can mobilize change that gives new life and spontaneity to the team's functioning. Placing the team's dynamic in a larger picture of the agency's service and community networks and pressures can illuminate the ways in which the staff reflects the issues of the clients and/or the institutions with whom they interact.

Liz organizes her consulting work around the needs of the group that engages her, weaving the workshop in a respectful way around the expressed goals of the staff. Concrete desired outcomes are established, and direct applicability to the workplace is clear. Particular attention is given to safety and respect for the learning context.

Individuals

Individuals come to Liz for support in the ongoing work that they do as therapists, as staff supervisors or as group workers. A series of sessions is agreed upon, and the focus derives from the immediate needs of the client.

Liz has consulted with a wide range of agencies and organizations, in the fields of addiction, children's services, parenting, housing, literacy, chaplaincy training, community development, sexual abuse treatment, workplace stress, supervision and psychotherapy. She has a particular interest in supervision, ethics and sound psychotherapy practice.

Supporting a Practice: Small group Supervision

In groups of up to five practising therapists Liz facilitates monthly 2-hour sessions in which participants meet in a spirit of encouragement and discovery to:

  1. begin with an introductory package generating an overview of their practice and a structure for alerting oneself to current and potential points of difficulty with clients
  2. consider the evolution of each person in the role of therapist
  3. respond to agenda items of participants ethical dilemmas, stuck points, reactions, questions, and discoveries
  4. use a range of methods including psychodrama to explore transference and countertransference and interpersonal dynamics with clients.
  5. interact with a number of other professionals with different outlooks and approaches to enrich the consideration of each presenting situation

Liz currently facilitates supervision groups in Toronto and Oshawa. Each determines its schedule, focus and structure. You are welcome to inquire about individual supervision or new groups developing in the fall.