In this 3-part series, Den Abreu explores the intersecting roles of psychologist, HR and practice leadership. Each session is registerable separately - links for the following sessions are below.
Session 3 The power/boundary hotspot
Supervision inside employment: Boundaries and conflicts of interest when the supervisor is also the employer, practice owner or line manager
Den Abreu provides practice owners/supervisors a standardised way to structure supervision so it remains clinically safe and ethically clean even when employment pressures exist.
Learning Outcomes:
- Why supervision becomes ethically complicated when the supervisor also employs and/or assesses the supervisee
- Contracting: expectations, confidentiality limits, reporting pathways, conflict-of-interest management
- Using supervision, policies and procedures to demonstrate safe, consistent practice
- Areas of concern: What to do when supervision reveals concerns that may need escalation to the leadership team or HR action, and how to prevent misuse of supervision as a 'disciplinary funnel'.
Key takeaways
- A supervision agreement structure and conflict-management plan template
- A separation of functions model (supervision, management, assessment) to protect both the supervisee and the practice.
About our presenter: Den Abreu
Den Abreu (they/them) is a multi-racial, NeuroQueer Counselling Psychologist, Psychosexual Therapist, Psychology Board Approved Supervisor, Public Speaker, and Private Practice Owner living and working on the unceded lands of the Turrbal and Yuggara peoples on Meanjin land. Multiply neurodivergent and a member of, and ally to LGBTIQAPSB+ communities, Den brings lived experience together with clinical and leadership expertise into conversations about wellbeing, work, power, and belonging.
Den is the CEO and Principal Psychologist of Haven Psychology, where they lead values driven, neurodiversity affirming practice across clinical services, supervision, and organisational systems. Their work focuses on translating ethics and inclusion into practical infrastructure - particularly in private practice, supervision, and leadership contexts where “professionalism” and performance are often treated as neutral. Den’s clinical work and supervision support primarily focuses on anti-colonialism, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, complex trauma, dissociative experiences, sexual health and well-being, relationships and attachment integrating the intersectionalities of the people they are supporting.
Through supervision, public speaking, training, and consultancy, Den supports individuals and organisations to move beyond accommodation and towards intentional system design that reduces harm, burnout, and exclusion. Their approach centres clarity, accountability, and collective responsibility, with a commitment to building workplaces where people can participate without masking or moralisation.
Webinar timing: 7:00 – 8:30 PM AEST
Also in this series:
Access to the recording of this webinar: A recording of this webinar will be available through the CPD Webinar Library, but for the best experience and the opportunity to ask your questions, join us live. Everyone who registers will be advised via email as soon as the recording is available. Members have unlimited access to the recording, and non-members will have access for 6 months.