The Seven Eyed Model of Supervision

There are many different models of supervision but one of the most commonly used is the seven-eyed model of supervision. The seven-eyed model of supervision is a framework that can be used in the supervision of coaches and mentors, as well as in other professions. The model was developed by Peter Hawkins and Robin Shohet and is covered in detail in their book Supervision In The Helping Professions. A link to this book and other books on supervision can be found at http://coachmentorsupervision/Books.

The seven-eyed model provides a very useful framework for supervision sessions and includes the different areas that supervision can focus on. The model can act as a checklist for supervisors, as well as coaches and mentors who are being supervised. The seven modes of supervision highlighted by the model are as detailed below. In explaining the modes I have used the term ‘coach’ to mean the coach or mentor who is being supervised.

1. Focus on the client and how they present. This mode focuses on what actually happened in the sessions with clients, how they presented themselves, what they chose to discuss and how this relates to previous sessions. The aim of this mode is to help the coach pay attention to their clients, their clients’ choices and the connections between various aspects of their clients’ situation.
2. Exploration of the strategies and interventions used by the coach. This mode focuses on the strategies and interventions used by the coach, including which ones, when and why they were used. This may help in developing alternative strategies and interventions, as well as discussing potential consequences. The aim of this mode is to increase the strategies and interventions available to the coach.
3. Exploration of the relationship between the client and the coach. This mode focuses on what is happening in the relationships between the coach and their clients. The aim of this mode is to help the coach gain a greater insight and understanding of the dynamics of their relationships with their clients.
4. Focus on the coach. This mode focuses on how the coach is affected by their work with their clients, both consciously and subconsciously, and how they deal with this. This includes both the coach’s well being and their development. The aim of this mode is to increase the capacity of the coach to engage with their clients and to more effectively handle their responses.
5. Focus on the supervisory relationship. This mode focuses on what is happening in the relationship between the supervisor and the coach. The aims of this mode are to ensure that the supervisor/coach relationship is working well and to explore how the coach/clients relationships may be playing out or paralleling in the supervisor/coach relationship.
6. The supervisor focusing on their own process. This mode is where the supervisor pays attention to what they are experiencing in the supervision sessions. The aim of this mode is for the supervisor to use their responses to provide another source of information to the coach.
7. Focus on the wider context in which the work happens. This mode takes into consideration the wider context in which the work happens, including the context of the clients, the context of the coach’s profession, the context of the coach/clients and supervisor/coach relationships and the wider world of the coach and supervisor. The aim is to understand and pay attention to the wider context as part of the supervision.

Supervision should involve all seven of the above modes, but not necessarily in every supervision session. The use of the different modes will also vary with the developmental stage of the coach. A coach who is new to their work will want to focus mainly on the content of their work with their clients and the detail of what happened in each session. They will also need help understanding the wider context, therefore the supervision will focus in modes 1 and 7. As the coach gets more experienced it will be possible to spend time in mode 2 as well, and as the coach develops further all modes will have their place in the supervision.

If you would like supervision for your coaching or mentoring please refer to the Makin It Happen – Supervision & Support for Coaches & Mentors website at http://coachmentorsupervision.co.uk or contact Liz Makin at Liz@makinithappen.co.uk.

This article first appeared in the August 2007 edition of the Makin It Happen – Supervision & Support for Coaches & Mentors newsletter. Please click here to Sign up for our email newsletter.