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:
  • Form a trusting relationship between supervisor & practitioner
  • Establish consistent and predictable meetings and times
  • Ask questions that encourage details about the infant, parent and emerging relationship
  • Remain emotionally present
  • Teach/guide
  • Nurture/support
  • Apply the integration of emotion & reason
  • Foster the reflective process to be internalized by the supervisee
  • Explore the parallel process and to allow time for personal reflection
  • Attend to how reactions to the content affect the process

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:
  •  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: Reflective Supervision from a vetted or endorsed professional is now required by PA-AIMH for all applications as well as Endorsement renewals.  Please contact us for more information or with questions related to the type of supervision you may be receiving and how to determine if those hours can be captured as part of your application for Endorsement.
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