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🌱Supervision Spotlight: From Wounded Healer to Confident Practitioner: Elaine’s Experience of Working with Sarah Tombs in Supervision
- sarahtombs90
- Oct 3
- 4 min read
“I’ve never at any point thought I can’t tell Sarah that and that is critical for a supervisor."
“Straight away, your nervous system talks to my nervous system. You have a very calming influence on me and gave me a lot of confidence.”
Elaine began her counselling journey later in life, inspired by her own experiences as a “wounded healer.” Like many emerging therapists and counsellors, she struggled with self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, and the pressure to perform in both academic and professional settings.
Seeking to grow her confidence and develop her skills, she turned to clinical supervision to support her professional and personal development.
Elaine started working with me during her placements and has now been in supervision for four years.
From the outset, our work focused on creating a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space where she could bring her whole self - thoughts, feelings, and experiences and she felt safe to bring these into supervision together.
My approach helped her reflect on client work, navigate challenges, and grow as both a therapist and build her private practice.
Through this journey, Elaine has enhanced her therapeutic skills, gained confidence in decision-making, strengthened professional boundaries, and learned to prioritise self-care. Her growth in supervision has allowed her to show up authentically for clients, fostering a deeper connection and more effective practice.
The space has allowed her to integrate self-awareness and self-care, empowering her to provide the highest standard of care to her clients while also nurturing her own growth as a practitioner.
It has been a privilege to collaborate with Elaine and I cannot wait for this next year of our work together.
Watch Elaine's Video Testimonial here: ⬇️
Can you tell us a little bit about you and your counsellor Journey?
I am an integrative therapist and I started my counselling journey after a pretty horrific breakup, later in life. I’d always felt pressure about academic work and careers, and a bit of a belief that I wasn’t good enough.
I found counselling through being a wounded healer, and I started my placements with you guiding me. From the start, you put me at ease and our work together has really supported me in navigating self-worth, academic pressures and client work.
How long have we been working together in Supervison?
It’s been four years now, which feels both long and short! We’ve gone through a lot of change - pandemics, personal growth, clients, everything.
But throughout, your supervision has been a constant, grounding influence.
What is your experience of working together in supervision?
From the start, your calmness really spoke to my nervous system. You gave me confidence and helped me see the good in my work with clients.
As I progressed, it’s become more of an equal partnership, but still very supportive. You’ve given me a solid foundation to grow my clinical skills and develop as a therapist, and I’ve always felt held and nurtured.
What makes the supervision space feel supportive and safe?
It’s held, supportive, and you are so reliable.
Professional but empathetic. I’ve never felt I couldn’t bring something into supervision. I feel like I can bring anything - I’ve never at any point thought I can’t tell Sarah that, and that is critical for a supervisor.
Even when I haven’t brought my best self - when I’ve been overwhelmed with clients or unsure what to do - you’ve supported me and guided me through that.
You haven’t forgotten what it’s like to be a trainee or a new counsellor, and that’s massive.
It’s critical to have a supervisor you can trust fully, and that’s been my experience with you.
How has our supervision shaped you as a therapist and as a person?
It’s made a huge difference. I’ve grown in confidence, developed clinical skills, strengthened boundaries, and prioritised self-care.
I feel like I can bring everything to supervision and translate that into my client work. I’m more authentic, more reflective, and better able to advocate for my clients. It’s also improved my relationship with myself as a practitioner.
What would you say to another therapist or coach considering supervision with me?
Go for it! You won’t regret it. Having a space where you can bring your whole self and be genuine is huge. Being able to be honest, bring everything to supervision, and still feel supported - that’s massive.
Supervision with Sarah, lets you keep clients at the forefront while developing your own confidence and skills. That’s something not to be underestimated.
Anything else on your mind or in your heart that you want to share?
I feel so grateful for this space and our work together.
Ready to Grow and Transform Your Private Practice?
It’s been a privilege to support Elaine’s counselling journey.
Witnessing her growth in confidence, authenticity, and professional competence has been amazing!
If you’re a therapist, counsellor, or coach looking for BACP-aligned clinical supervision, a holding and empathetic space, and guidance to grow your confidence and skills, I love to invite you to work together ⬇️
Whether you’re a trainee navigating placements, newly qualified, or an experienced practitioner exploring private practice or working within organisations, I adapt my trauma-informed, integrative, and intuitive supervision style to meet you where you are.
Together, we can cultivate confidence, authenticity, and reflective practice, so you can show up fully for your clients while supporting your own growth.
Take the next step toward building a confident, grounded, and effective practice.
Complete the supervision application form below to share your needs and preferences. Once reviewed, I’ll invite you to a 20–30 minute connection call to explore a potential collaboration and ensure alignment.
Your invited to apply using the form below ⬇️
With love & gratitude,
Sarah
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