IJSP Number 8, 2026

International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, Number 8, 2026 Page | 108 REFLECTING IN ACTION Once the background to the supervision enquiry had been established and the framework set up, Anna takes time to feel her way into the different zones while I simply observe. In a sense we both become ‘witness’ to the supervisory enquiry at the same moment. Attuning to breath and anchoring into the space helps the supervisee ground; this might also support a degree of self-regulation if needed. In working with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) clients, it can be especially helpful to offer a moment to breathe for the supervisee to settle into the enquiring experience to meet the various strands of this story and to give space for her thinking and feeling. As Anna begins to feel into this space, I can see that her body begins to move. She steps into the Observer/Witness zone (b, see figure 3) placing her hands on her chest. She then feels pain in the chest. “I want to get out,” she quickly says. “I need air.” Anna then transitions from the Observer zone into the Self space (a1); here, she says, “I am him: stubborn, lonely. I know the truth. Nobody understands.” She then moves into the Bigger Picture . “I can breathe and it’s actually a nice feeling.” As she steps into the Relationship space (a2), she experiences intense sensations. “I want to cry; nobody understands his truth.” Bigger Picture – Suggestive of the socio-political context of the war: here it felt light because of emotional distancing between Anna and her client. Self – Suggestive of the client’s anger and desire to let things out, but it’s a process than needs time. Relationship – Suggestive of all aspects of the soldier’s relationships: his wife, the unborn child, the dead friend, the dead soldier’s family, the courage to face the family. Observer/Witness – Suggestive of Anna’s challenges in working with her client. There is a level of empathic attunement that I feel as her supervisor. I am able to dialogue with Anna throughout this process, helping her to understand the complex dynamics around the soldier’s trauma. Once the supervisee has spent time in each of the zones, she is able to step out of FERN and clear the objects. This is an important part of the process, during which the supervisee can transition out of intense sensations to a more reflective space of dialogue. The framework enables Anna to step into different thresholds, to embody and get a sense of how to process with her client. In transitioning from one space to another Anna has gathered some important facts and sees more clearly that her client is still in the early stages of trying to come to terms with the accident and the loss of his friend. His anger is part of his grief. Not pushing the soldier for full disclosure is the right decision for maintaining stability and not re-traumatizing. She believes that she must support him in managing his symptoms and helping him re-establish his life and create a future as a father. The last point seems significant for my supervisee. She takes from this method the realization that the soldier needs more time. There is a gestation period for him to be able to release his trauma, just as there is a gestation period for his wife prior to the birth of their child. We consider the importance of focusing on trauma recovery, while not recounting the memories [28]. The trauma has happened but is not forgotten. This is part of the recovery stage during which we might attempt the management of symptoms as he re-establishes ordinary life.