Supervision is recognised among experienced homeopaths as an important support for avoiding, understanding or dealing with difficult situations in practice. For many of them, supervision has become a regular part of their continuing professional development.

Competent homeopaths not only possess theoretical knowledge and understanding of homeopathic principles, but are also able to apply these principles in practice: in case taking, case analysis, repertorisation, choice of remedy and potency, as well as in long term case management. They regularly assess the effectiveness of their work.

At the same time, they are able to communicate effectively with patients and diagnose treatment disturbances in sufficient time.

Furthermore, competent homeopaths are aware of their personal limitations, as well as the limitations of their method. They are not only involved in continuing professional development and regular supervision in homeopathy, but also in advanced conventional diagnostics and therapy training.

Homeopathic supervision has both homeopathic and general aspects.

Homeopathic aspects include the application of homeopathic principles and methods in practice. The main focus is on perceiving of what is to be cured in a case, in most cases followed by finding the individually indicated homeopathic remedy for the patient. The discussion then concentrates on the different ways to analyse a case, to repertorise, to study the homeopathic materia medica comparatively and other methodological aspects.

These specific homeopathic aspects are an important part of homeopathic supervision, as finding out what is to be cured in a case is often the first hurdle. Regular self assessment and clinical audit also belong to the specific homeopathic part of supervision. The analysis not only of difficult, but also of successfully treated cases can also contribute to a broadening of the individual homeopathic competences (Reflective Practise).

In many cases, other aspects can additionally play a role, as e.g. treatment disturbances through subconscious processes or behaviour patterns.

Quite often these aspects contribute to difficult situations in practice. Therefore, methods of supervision developed in other professions can be equally helpful in homeopathic practice, e.g. to challenge one’s own role understanding, or to venture on concepts like that of transference and counter-transference etc. At the same time it is important to keep in mind, that supervision is not a substitute for one’s own self awareness training or therapy.

Sharpening the perception of subconscious processes in turn helps to enhance homeopathic competences. E.g. if the supervisee is familiar with his or her own reaction to certain patients, then these perceptions can be used to refine the individual’s tools for homeopathic case analysis.

An important task of supervision is also to call the attention of the supervisee to the limitations of treatment, which arise from the general conditions of a homeopathic practice, as well as from the individual competences of the supervisee. Likewise it is important to consider the supervisee’s conventional diagnostics and therapy training.

Homeopathy itself as a method has limitations: where the vital force is not able to re-establish health completely, treatment can then only be used in an accompanying or palliative way.

Finally, supervision can yield valuable insights for self management in relation to homeopathic practice, including learning strategies, practice management, project management and time management.