Krystyn Smale

About me

This supervisor has been approved to provide supervision under the ACCESS TO SUPERVISION PROJECT.

I stumbled into the consumer movement as so many of us do in 2010 as I was ready to re-emerge into the world after taking another downward spiral. I’m a sound technician/engineer “by trade” and worked in that field prior to and throughout my involvement in the consumer workforce. I love music and sound but I also seek to connect, create and evolve with others.

In 2019 I took a travel break, perhaps to “find myself” (I seem to have gone missing to myself a lot in my life :)) though this time round I think I finally grasped that I will never be found and I have never really been lost, but nonetheless I will continue to ebb and flow because that's just what we humans do!

I now offer my services as a consumer perspective supervisor to support the consumer workforce that I contributed to developing over the previous years.

I am also a yoga therapist and breathwork facilitator. There are a few trusty practices that have served my wellness day in and day out over many years - yoga, meditation and breathwork. So I love to be able to support others with these practices too.

You might also like to know, I love to cook, climb mountains (real ones) and scuba dive. I like dancing, chocolate and sun.

Please read my credentials and approach to CPS below and be in touch to see if we might be a match for supervision.

This supervisor has been approved to provide supervision under the ACCESS TO SUPERVISION PROJECT. If you are a supervisee who has received an approval email/letter from the CMHL you may contact this supervisor for supervision for this project, then follow the stated processes for supervision payment.

My experience

Independent consumer perspective supervisor; Yoga therapist (mental health) & breathwork facilitator, Self employed - 2020 - present

Consumer Academic, Centre for Psychiatric Nursing & Department of Social Work, University of Melbourne - 2016-2020

Consumer Workforce Development Co-ordinator, CMHL - 2018-2019

Writer as part of the project team which co-produced the Consumer Perspective Supervision framework - 2018.

Peer Support Co-ordinator, Inner West Area Mental Health Service (clinical) - 2015-2018

Consumer consultant/Peer support worker, Inner West Area Mental Health Service (clinical) - 2010-2015

My current role/work

Self employed:
Independent consumer perspective supervisor
Yoga therapist (mental health) & breathwork facilitator

My training

Going Deeper Together with IPS, Intentional Peer Support (IPS)
Intentional Peer Support advanced training,
IPS Intentional Peer Support core training,
IPS IPS Narrative Therapy Approaches to Supervision, Shona Russell (SA)
Alternatives to Suicide group facilitation, Western Massachusetts Recovery Learning Community (USA)
Emotional CPR (eCPR), Daniel Fisher (USA)
PeerZone facilitator training, PeerZone (NZ)
MIND 5 day Peer Work training, MIND Australia
Using Your Story in Peer Work, Voices Vic
Group Facilitation for Peer Workers, Voices Vic
Principles of Qualitative Research, University of Melbourne
Ethics and Law in the Mental Health Setting, North Western Mental Health Vic
Victorian Mental Health Leadership Program, Leadership Victoria

My approach to supervision

My approach is based on the the values and principles of consumer perspective supervision as articulated in the Consumer Perspective Supervision framework. How a supervisee uses supervision can be as individual as we are. I like to discuss expectations, intentions and possibilities at the beginning so we are on the same page...which can simply start as a blank page if that’s what will work or something more structured but mostly it’s important to see if it feels like a good fit.

Additional ideas relating to supervision:

• A persons autonomy/self-determination is the number one priority. How does this look in a supervision context? The person determines what subject areas/issues we discuss, which elements they want to focus on, what level of support they want for each area ie

just talking it out, being heard, reflection, inquiry, develop a coaching plan, setting themselves a level of accountability etc.

• The discipline of consumer perspective is the backdrop to the discussion of work issues

• To address challenges at a persons own pace is essential as is focussing on strengths

• Syncing the body, mind and inner wisdom leads to choices and actions that are in alignment with a persons values and intentions

• Making choices at work that are in alignment with personal values and intentions is essential to contribute to making the workplace a safe environment

• Peer/consumer work is inextricably linked to our personal lived experience and can be compartmentalised or blended according to the persons preferences and what works best for them - meaning it is up to the person to what degree they share or relate the work issue we are exploring to their personal lived experience where it will assist them in expansion within their work role

• We have the answers we seek inside and can discover them with exploration, inquiry, reflection and stillness

• Mutuality provides a fertile space for exploration and learning for all involved. Supervisor and supervisee are both students and teachers at once, creating new understandings unique to each

• Expanding our awareness and skill set is of great value

• Authenticity, being real about what we’re experiencing creates space for clarity, learning and growth

• There is no single right path or solution - all possibilities are important, valid, an option

• Having fun often helps

Tools or practices that can be drawn on as preferred by the supervisee:

• reflecting on examples from practice

• sharing of personal strategies and experiences

• good ol' pen and paper to nut out pros/cons/strengths/weaknesses of a situation

• focussing on strengths to move towards

• physical movement to shift perspective etc

• techniques such as visualisation and centreing to tune into personal intuition regarding the issue/topic to mobilise personal agency

• intention setting for the session