Vikki Reynolds: Supervision at the Intersections of Power in Community Work & Therapy

In this experiential workshop we will consider how to promote dignifying and generative supervision groups while centering our Supervisory practices at the intersections of power. We will deconstruct some "case consultation" norms that don't serve clients or therapists, and consider what a Culture of Critique that is generative, expansive, connected and dignified might offer. We will engage in practices for structuring safety that provide the scaffold for expansive critique, as well as practices that situate all group supervisees at the ethical centre, as opposed to 'taking turns presenting cases'. 

A Supervision of Solidarity is informed by a spirit of solidarity and social justice activism. The ethics from which the supervision practices emerge comprise an ethical stance for justice-doing in community work at the intersections of power. This encompasses centering ethics, doing solidarity, addressing power, fostering collective sustainability, critically engaging with language, and structuring safety. Justice Doing opens our work to transformations for ourselves, the people we work alongside and our communities and society, and offers the potential for experiencing the social divine. 

Resources: (all free and available at http://www.vikkireynolds.ca/) 

It is not necessary to read anything prior, and these articles are offered as possibilities if supervisors want to follow the references and history of ideas and practices) 

• Reynolds (2014) Centering ethics in therapeutic supervision: Fostering cultures of critique and structuring safety. The International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work. No. 1, 1-13. 

• Everett, B., MacFarlane D., Reynolds, V., & Anderson, H. (2013). Not on our backs: Supporting counsellors in navigating the ethics of multiple relationships within queer, Two Spirit, and/or trans communities. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 47(1), 14-28. 

• Reynolds, V. & Larcombe, A. (2016). Living Supervision in Practice: Structuring accountability with men therapists working alongside women and gender-variant persons with precarious lives , in I. McCarthy & G. Simon (Eds.), Systemic therapy as transformative practice. London: Everything is Connected Press, p125-138. 

• Reynolds, V. (2013). “Leaning in” as imperfect allies in community work. Narrative and Conflict: Explorations in theory and practice, 1(1), 53-75. 

• Reynolds, V. (2011). Supervision of solidarity practices: Solidarity teams and people-ing-the-room. Context. August 2011. Association for Family and Systemic Therapy, UK, 4-7. 

• Dupuis-Rossi, R., Charlene Hellson and Vikki Reynolds (2020).Disrupting Current Colonial Practices and Structures In the Immigration and Non-Profit Sector.Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA). 

Learning Outcomes:

• In the workshop we will:
  consider how to promote dignifying and generative supervision groups for therapy and community work

• deconstruct “case consultation” norms that don’t serve clients or practitioners, and consider what a “Culture of Critique” that is generative, expansive, connected and dignified might offer.

• consider practices of structuring safety and creating relationships of respect and dignity which can promote a culture of accountability that generates useful and rich critique.

• share some practices for creating intentional supervisory relationships.

• create cultures of accountability that invite critique that are a resistance against surveillance practices of supervision

• practice examples of “Living Supervision”, and creating “Solidarity Teams” to assist practitioners to work in alignment with our collective ethic 

Event Details:

Session One: Thursday, 19th November 2026

Session Two: Friday, 20th November 2026

Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm AEST (Queensland time)
Location: Online

Who should attend

Leaders and Advanced Practitioners in the domestic and family violence, sexual violence and women's health and wellbeing sector.

About the presenter

Vikki Reynolds
Vikki Reynolds (PhD RCC) is an activist/ therapist who works to bridge the worlds of social justice activism with   community work and therapy. Vikki is a white settler on the territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam   nations. Vikki's people are Irish and English folks, and she is a heterosexual woman with cisgender privilege. Her   experience includes supervision and therapy with people-with-lived/living-experience and other workers responding to  the drug poisoning catastrophe, refugees and survivors of torture - including Indigenous people who have survived residential   schools and other state violence, sexualized violence counsellors, mental health and substance misuse counsellors,   housing and shelter workers, activists and working alongside gender and sexually diverse communities. Vikki has been an Adjunct Professor and has written and presented internationally. Articles & speaks free at: www.vikkireynolds.ca