Book excerpt: Supervision is of increasing significance in the practice of mental health professionals, especially since the advent of voluntary and mandatory registration, managed care and clinical governance. Little, however, has been written to address the practical and theoretical needs and questions of those involved. In Supervision in the Mental Health Professions, Joyce Scaife, along with her guest contributors, draws on over two decades of experience to illustrate ways of thinking about and doing supervision. Using practical examples, she explores often-encountered dilemmas, including: * How can supervisors facilitate learning? * What are the ethical bases of supervision? * What helps to create a good working alliance? This comprehensive, practical and indispensable text is vital reading for supervisors and supervisees involved in mental health care, including clinical psychology, counselling, psychotherapy, counselling psychology, psychiatry, nursing and social work.