Clinical Supervision

Supporting Professional Growth

A Safe Space for Reflection and Development
I work in supervision sessions using the Gestalt and Person Centred models. It is my intention to help support supervisees to explore and reflect on the work with their clients and work through any difficulties. I work with supervisees in a relational way. I am happy to work with both trainees and qualified therapists. My specialisms are trauma, including all kinds of abuse, depression and anxiety and other forms of mental illness including personality disorders.
Paul Carter - Psychotherapy, EMDR, Counselling & Supervision Services

My Background

I am a BACP Accredited counsellor. Counsellors take an examination to qualify for accreditation by BACP in order to keep high standards of counselling. I abide by the Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy of the (BACP), and the Gestalt Psychotherapy Institute.

I have worked as a counsellor/psychotherapist since 2003 and as a supervisor since 2008. I work with short-term clients using EMDR for PTSD, trauma and abuse, or CBT and Solution Focused models for other issues. The aim here is to help clients to learn strategies and solutions for coping with their difficulties.

I also work with Gestalt and the Person Centred models. These models are more relational working in the “here and now” of what is going on relationally between the client and myself. These models are more suited to longer term work to assist clients to find their way through the difficulties they are experiencing. I work with body, thoughts, feelings & emotions.

About My Practice

I run a private practice in Kingswinford, Birmingham city centre, on the telephone and online.

  • I offer counselling and psychotherapy to individuals and couples.
  • I offer sessions in EMDR.
  • I offer clinical supervision to other counsellors and psychotherapists.

I offer daytime, and weekend appointments.

In both locations I work from there is easy parking, good public transport.

I offer both short term and long term psychotherapy.

I have a current DBS certificate, am fully insured, and am committed to continuing professional delopment (CPD).

If you would like to speak to me about clinical supervision please Get In Touch.

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Training, Qualifications and Experience:


  • EMDR Practitioner Training - EMDR Academy (2020)
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Supervision - Temenos Sheffield (2008)
  • Solution Focused Therapy 1, 2 & 3 - SFBT (2018)
  • 6 Day CBT Course - Talk Matters CBT Training (2008)
  • Certificate in Couples Counselling - Cambridge Counselling Services (2015)
  • Level 4 Diploma in Counselling - Integrative - Birmingham Counselling Centre (2005)
  • Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy - New York Gestalt Institute (2015)
  • Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills - Person-Centred - Birmingham Counselling Centre (2003)
  • Post Grad Diploma in Gestalt Supervision - London Gestalt Centre (2012)
  • BACP Accreditation (2009)
  • Post Grad Diploma in Psychotherapy Level 7 - Gestalt Psychotherapy Training Institute York (2015)
  • I continue to undertake regular CPD to enhance my skills and understanding

Trainee Counsellors - Things to Think About


As a trainee counsellor seeing clints for the first time can be daunting, it can be hard to hold all of the things you have learnt in lectures and listen and respond effectively to the client all at once, whilst also holding your own anxiety or concern.

Below are some things to consider about supervision before you start your clinical placement.

  • Research supervisors – are they someone who aligns with your way of working? Does the supervisor offer an initial meeting where you can meet them and see whether you can work together. Meet a few supervisors until your find someone you are comfortable with.
  • Think about what is important to you and make sure you ask your supervisor questions before you commit to working with them. For instance:
    • Can you contact the supervisor between sessions? – Will they charge for this?
    • Are they happy to fill out the necessary forms and reports for your course, will this need to be done in sessions, will you need to pay for extra sessions.
    • How much supervision should you have. Mistakes that new counsellors make is not having enough supervision. What is the requirement of your college and professional body. There have been cases where counsellors have had to repeat clinical hours and supervision because the ratio wasn’t enough. Your supervisor may also require that you have a minimum amount of supervision a month no matter how many clients you have.
    • How does your supervisor work and what is there background? Does this meet the criteria of your course.
    • Explore with your supervisor how the sessions will be planned out.
  • Have a proper supervision session before your first client – Whilst financially you might feel seeing a supervisor before you have seen a client doesn’t make sense it can make a huge difference to how contained you feel going into your first session. You can use this session to practice and plan out how you might start the session and complete your confidentiality. You can explore and consider any anxiety or worries that you have or issues that you might see arising, such as managing boundaries like time. When you see a client you are offering them a safe contained space to explore and deal with their issues. To do this you must also feel contained and safe. Having supportive supervision can help with this and it is your responsibility as a counsellor to put this in place for yourself.

The BACP and UKCP have a number of fact sheets and useful resources on choosing a supervisor

BACP – Supervision

UKCP – Supervision