ABSTRACT
Following the establishment of a contract, the work of supervision can begin. The point of entry into the work is called the focus. The focus then continues to be the material under consideration at any point of the supervision session. A focus is both a locus of attention and a point of convergence and, in supervision, is the topic or issue upon which both supervisor and supervisee are directing their concentrated energy and attention at any one time. In gestalt terminology it is ‘figure’, while the context of the client work constitutes the ‘ground’ from which the focus emerges. As in counselling, it is important for a focus to be established and maintained in order that the work develops systematically and does not degenerate into erratic fits and starts. Staying with a focus ensures that issues are explored in some depth and irrelevancies are minimised.
