What is Reflective Supervision/Consultation (RSC)?
PA-AIMH, in collaboration with the Alliance for the Advancement of IMH, is committed to the understanding and the use of RSC, which is distinct from other forms of supervision due to the shared exploration of the parallel process. That is, attention to all of the relationships is important, including the ones between practitioner and supervisor, between practitioner and parent, and between parent and infant/toddler/young child. It is critical to understand how each of these relationships affects the others. Of additional importance, RSC relates to professional and personal development within one's discipline by attending to the emotional content of the work and how reactions to the content affect the work. Finally, there is often a greater emphasis on the supervisor/consultant's ability to listen and wait, allowing the supervisee to discover solutions, concepts and perceptions on his/her own without interruption from the supervisor/consultant.
The primary objectives of RSC include the following:
The primary objectives of RSC include the following:
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Reflective Supervision/Consultation Requirements for Endorsement
Reflective Supervision/Consultation is a cornerstone when working with infants, toddlers and their families. Reflective Supervision is a requirement for the following categories of Endorsement and will be a part of your application/portfolio:
While not a requirement for the following categories of Endorsement, it is in the best interest of all practitioners who promote I/ECMH, as well as the children and families who will benefit from their services, to engage in reflective practices and reflective supervision/consultation:
- Infant Family Specialist (IFS), Infant Family Reflective Supervisor (IFRS), Infant Mental Health Specialist (IMHS), and Infant Mental Health Mentor-Clinical (IMHM-C)
- Early Childhood Family Specialist (ECFS), Early Childhood Family Reflective Supervisor (ECFRS), Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist (ECMHS), and Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor – Clinical (ECMHM-C)
While not a requirement for the following categories of Endorsement, it is in the best interest of all practitioners who promote I/ECMH, as well as the children and families who will benefit from their services, to engage in reflective practices and reflective supervision/consultation:
- Infant Family Associate (IFA), Infant Mental Health Mentor-Policy (IMHM-P), or Infant Mental Health Mentor-Research/Faculty (IMHM-R/F)
- Early Childhood Family Associate (ECFA), Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor-Policy (ECMHM-P), or Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor-Research/Faculty (ECMHM-R/F)
Reflective Supervision/Consultation Resources
There are several resources developed by the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health regarding Reflective Supervision/Consultation. Those resources can be found at the following links:
- Best Practice Guidelines for Reflective Supervision/Consultation (link includes access to the RSC Wheel as well as a resource on distance RSC)
- National Registry of Endorsed Trainers and Reflective Supervisors (includes PA Professionals)
- Pennsylvania's Reflective Supervisor/Consultant Registry

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Copyright law does allow individuals to print out or make ONE copy of copyrighted material for personal, non-commercial purposes only. None of the copyrighted, Endorsement® documents included here may be reproduced, displayed, distributed or otherwise used in any format, including electronically, without the express written consent of MI-AIMH. Legal action will be taken against those who violate the copyright.