When Work Gets Complicated: Fidelity, Values, and Dual Relationships: Part 2
Last week, we explored what we can do as mentors, professional supervisors or coaches to help our clients when they are challenged with their professional fidelity. We looked at the two most common reasons: dual relationships and misaligned values. As a reminder, a dual relationship occurs when a person has more than one relationship with someone at work. For example, … Read More ... Read More
26 Feb 2026
When Work Gets Complicated: Fidelity, Values, and Dual Relationships: Part 1
Many of my sessions as a practitioner revolve around similar topics: work/life balance, stress and fatigue, managing the emotions of self and others, and building resilience and buoyancy. Most of these deal with interpersonal issues or long-term goals of transformation. A topic that sometimes slips by the wayside is a client’s fidelity to their profession. ... Read More
19 Feb 2026
When Should I Refer My Client to Someone Else?
As Mentors or Professional Supervisors, we dedicate ourselves to helping others; we are natural caretakers and genuinely want to support and aid our clients. It can be hard to admit when we find ourselves out of our depth, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of; there are some issues we don’t have the proper experience or skills to address. There are times when we need to refer our client to someone with more specialised knowledge. We should remember that our client’s well-being is a group effort; we are part of a team our client can turn to in times of need. This is a wonderful thing as it takes some of the pressure from us, and allows our client to receive the most effective care… ... Read More
8 Jan 2026
The Cost and Value of a Mentor
If you have been following Verve Lead for even just a few weeks, you will know that I am a strong advocate for the work of mentors, coaches, and professional supervisors. Personally, having a mentor has brought me closer to God and my calling, and I believe that developing a relationship with a mentor is crucial for all ministry leaders. Given its positive impact, let us encourage everyone to participate in the process. There is, however, a hard truth: mentoring costs...
18 Sept 2025
What Does it Mean to Sign a Mentoring/Supervising Contact?
Why is it so essential to get a signature on our contracts? It may seem like once all the information has been communicated, and all questions have been asked and answered, the important steps have already been completed. A signature could seem like an unnecessary formality between adults. I have had a few clients hesitate to sign our contracts...
13 Dec 2024
What are the Limits of Confidentiality?
Once again, I want to stress the importance of confidentiality with clients and its limits. Knowing that what is said during sessions will remain between just the two of you will create a sense of safety, allowing the client to be more honest and vulnerable. This will strengthen your relational bond and make the work much more effective...
21 Nov 2024
Working with a Degree of Independence
What is a conflict of interest? This arises when the mentor/supervisor has multiple interests in a client when they are providing a role that should only focus on the professional interest as a mentor/supervisor. Examples are working with a person you are too close to; a friend, family member, or a person you have a romantic interest in. It can also occur in business relationships; mentoring your direct superior or subordinate could easily result in biased advice to promote your own interest...
7 Nov 2024
A Quick Reminder About Liability Coverage
Legal matters and workplace insurance (liability coverage) are an essential part of our work as mentors and supervisors. Finding liability coverage and maintaining it should take up a very small percentage of our time, and once it is set in place, we shouldn’t have to focus on it very often. All that being said, today, we will briefly touch on why liability coverage is important...
17 Oct 2024
Three Things to Know About the Boundaries of Supervision and Mentoring
The focus of many of these blogs has been to explore the essential competencies of mentoring and supervision. However, it’s also important to understand where we are not competent...
3 Oct 2024
The Importance of Professional Development
What is the role of professional development in mentoring or supervision? I see it as a journey of discovery. Just like we are available to others to help them see what they cannot see on their own, we also need an outside perspective when developing our own skills. Even the best mentor/supervisor is not all-knowing or all-seeing...
27 June 2024
Building Strong Parameters with Clients
We have spent a lot of time looking at the nitty-gritty elements of the relationship between mentors and mentees/supervisors and supervisees; how to handle delicate information and situations, how to treat clients with integrity and dignity, how to navigate conflicting interests…. Many of these issues come back to the parameters of the relationship. A parameter is a fixed limit on ... Read More
20 June 2024
Am I Acting in the Best Interest of my Mentee/Supervisee?
How can we be sure that we are acting in the best interest of our mentees or supervisees? When in doubt, I always look to Jesus. Jesus was a servant leader. He led his disciples with humility. A classic example is how he washed the feet of others; he took the place of a servant because he wanted to show how he cared about the well-being of his followers. He wanted to help them feel clean...
13 June 2024
Three Questions to Ask About Professional Ethics
Having a code of ethics, and then living by that code, is a mark of a strong mentor or supervisor. As a guide and caretaker of others, you set an example by reflecting on your own beliefs and becoming aware of the codes of ethics at play around you...
6 June 2024
How to Navigate Conflicting Interests
There are two main ways I’ve seen conflicting interests affect mentors/supervisors; one is a personal conflict of interest, and the other is a dual relationship...
30 May 2024
Prioritising Dignity and Respect in Mentoring/Supervising Sessions
The idea that a mentor or supervisor should be treated with respect and dignity is far from a new or radical concept: it’s foundational to the work. Most mentors and supervisors enjoy working with others, but even the most easy-going person occasionally runs into someone they find difficult to work with. This can be because of a conflict in beliefs, attitude or actions, but a mentor/supervisor should never let this difficulty come across, and should focus on empathising with the client and helping them move forward. Within the Christian world, there is the recognition that everyone is a child of God and should be treated as such...
16 May 2024
Our New Series Begins Today!
What does it mean to be principled in your practice? This is an essential competency for a mentor/supervisor… which we will be focusing on for the next few weeks. To be principled in practice means that you “adhere to core values and beliefs rooted in sound doctrine.” Every mentor/supervisor needs a code of conduct for their practice. There are likely already some set up for you, beginning with the legal requirements in the area you practise, including the denomination or professional association you are working within...
9 May 2024
Are your professional boundaries slipping?
Do you want to know how to set strong professional boundaries in mentoring? Read this article to explore the law, professional limitations, relationships, self-awareness and professional supervision. Click through to learn more and get questions to reflect on!
1 June 2023
Professional Mentoring/Supervision.
God never meant for us to do life alone.
30 Mar 2023
When Money Changes Hands
Explore the impact of charging for mentoring and how it makes a difference for both the mentor and mentee. Learn how to be a professional mentor, the financial element and the mechanics of a mentoring partnership. Read my article to join the conversation and share your thoughts!
9 Feb 2023
The Seven Perspectives (Introduction)
Seven Eyes Model of Supervision If you have been in leadership, and have had to supervise coworkers and employees for more than a few years, it’s likely you have heard of the seven-eyes model of supervision. This is a method of supervision developed by Peter Hawkins. It is designed to help practitioners grow in their professional development, particularly to understand ... Read More
4 Aug 2022
Mentoring Essentials: Principled in Practice
What does it mean to be principled in our work? How do we make sure we are being professional, ethical and consistent with our beliefs? Caregiving roles require professionalism and principles., Strong ethics are the backbone of the mentoring practice. If you are a mentor, it’s key to adhere to core values and beliefs that are rooted in sound doctrine ... Read More
28 Apr 2022
Christian Well-being Mentor
Here at Verve Lead, we are excited to be starting a new series exploring the profile of a healthy Christian well-being mentor. This profile is centred around living a holistically healthy life that supports healthy well-being mentors. Whether you are a mentor or a mentee, or even simply considering the benefits of finding a well-being mentor for your life, this ... Read More
2 Mar 2022