Reflective supervision
A model for trusting relationships
Reflective supervision/coordination (RSC) is a core infant and early childhood mental health principle. Start your journey below.
What is reflective supervision?
A protected, collaborative space for care.
Reflective supervision/coordination (RSC) is a collaborative relationship for professional growth where a practitioner is able to share and explore accomplishments, insecurities, mistakes, questions, and different approaches to working with young children and their families.
“It’s a collaborative relationship for professional growth that improves practice by cherishing strengths and partnering around vulnerabilities to generate growth. Through this way of being, a holding environment is created—an emotional breathing space—where it is safe to explore accomplishments, insecurities, mistakes, questions, and different approaches to working with young children and their families.”
– Shahmoon-Shanok 1991
Primary objectives of RSC
Prerequisites for endorsement
RSC is required for the following categories of endorsement:
- Infant/Early Childhood Specialist
- Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist
- Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor.
See the requirements for each category of endorsement for more information.
- Form a trusting relationship between supervisor and practitioner
- Establish consistent and predictable meetings and times
- Ask questions that encourage details about the infant, parent, and emerging relationship
- Establish consistent and predictable meetings and times
- Foster the reflective process to be internalized by the supervisee
- Explore the parallel process and to allow time for personal reflection
- Attend to how reactions to the content affect the process
- Apply the integration of emotion and reason
- Remain emotionally present, teach/guide, and nurture/support
Reflective supervision toolkit
ORIMHA is proud to announce the publication of RSC: A Guide from Region X to Enhance Reflective Practice Among Home Visiting Programs. This set of guidelines provides a framework and shared language for RSC that are designed to support all reflective practice in the region. Self-assessment tools are included to promote the ongoing professional development of home visitors, supervisors, and programs.
Check out our Information Library for a full suite of resources, toolkits, and guides.
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Reflective Supervision Consultation Symposium
The 2026 Symposium will be co-hosted by the Oregon Infant Mental Health Association (ORIMHA) in the Pacific Northwest! This year’s theme, Bridging Community to Practice: Where Bridges Replace Barriers and Reflection Fuels Change, invites us to deepen our connections and strengthen the reflective practices that sustain our work with infants, young children, and families. Once you complete your…
Events
Endorsements
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Professional education resources
Trusted resources for inspired care and empowered teaching.
Regional provider support
ORIMHA is your connection to the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care’s Every Child Belongs program.
Information library
Explore our knowledge library focused on best practices, support, and training around infant and early childhood mental health.