A magnetostrictive sensor comprising: a sensor head (202,300) including, a driving pole having a driving coil coupled thereto that is configured to generate a first magnetic flux for impinging a target in response to receipt of a driving current; a sensing pole having a sensing coil coupled thereto that is configured to, output a first signal component based at least upon a second magnetic flux resulting from interaction of the first magnetic flux with the target; and output a second signal component based upon heat received from the target; and a controller in electrical communication with the sensor head (202,300) and configured to: transmit the driving current to the driving coil; receive the first and second signal components (248,252); determine a force applied to the target based upon the first signal components; determine a temperature based upon the second signal component; and adjust the force determined from the first signal component based upon the temperature determined from the second signal component; characterized by a torque sensing circuit including a receiver and the sensing coil and a temperature sensing circuit including the receiver, the sensing coil, an additional drive and a resistor interposed between nodes of the drive wherein a direct current is provided by the drive, the first signal component being an alternating current and the second signal component being the direct current provided by the drive. a sensor head (202,300) including, a driving pole having a driving coil coupled thereto that is configured to generate a first magnetic flux for impinging a target in response to receipt of a driving current; a sensing pole having a sensing coil coupled thereto that is configured to, output a first signal component based at least upon a second magnetic flux resulting from interaction of the first magnetic flux with the target; and output a second signal component based upon heat received from the target; and a controller in electrical communication with the sensor head (202,300) and configured to: transmit the driving current to the driving coil; receive the first and second signal components (248,252); determine a force applied to the target based upon the first signal components; determine a temperature based upon the second signal component; and adjust the force determined from the first signal component based upon the temperature determined from the second signal component; characterized by a torque sensing circuit including a receiver and the sensing coil and a temperature sensing circuit including the receiver, the sensing coil, an additional drive and a resistor interposed between nodes of the drive wherein a direct current is provided by the drive, the first signal component being an alternating current and the second signal component being the direct current provided by the drive. transmit the driving current to the driving coil; receive the first and second signal components (248,252); determine a force applied to the target based upon the first signal components; determine a temperature based upon the second signal component; and adjust the force determined from the first signal component based upon the temperature determined from the second signal component; characterized by a torque sensing circuit including a receiver and the sensing coil and a temperature sensing circuit including the receiver, the sensing coil, an additional drive and a resistor interposed between nodes of the drive wherein a direct current is provided by the drive, the first signal component being an alternating current and the second signal component being the direct current provided by the drive.