Learning, connecting and holistic wellbeing: A study of how supervisors sustain wellbeing and resilience

Professional supervision contributes to practice safety and supervisee wellbeing, supporting both quality service delivery as well as professional and personal development. However, the supervisor’s own support and development are areas less traversed. This study explored the activities that supervisors identified as necessary to sustain their wellbeing and resilience. A nationwide, mixed methods study exploring how supervisors support and sustain their professional development, wellbeing, and resilience was conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand. Supervisors across a range of professions participated in the study and the qualitative data identified a range of activities which maintained, supported and strengthened their wellbeing. The activities were positioned within the supervisor’s person-centred and practice-centred domains: self-knowledge and self-awareness of stress; conscious attention to holistic wellbeing; social connection, support, and learning from others; professional development; satisfying supervisory relationships; and professional self-management.