Prepare for your intro call

An intro call is a short video call with a supervisor you are considering. Nothing is decided by scheduling it, and neither of you is committed to supervision until you both agree after the call. Treat it as a fit conversation in both directions.

Before the call

• Be somewhere quiet and private, preferably at a desk or table.
• Test your camera, microphone, and internet connection ahead of time, and keep your camera on for the call.
• Dress as you would for a professional meeting.
• Know your current caseload and where you work.
• Know your ideal start date for supervision.
• Read your licensing board's supervision rules, including the credentials your board requires of a supervisor for your license type. Bring anything you are unsure about to the call.
• Have any paperwork your board or employer needs a supervisor to sign, so you can ask whether the supervisor is willing to complete it.
• Leave a little buffer after the scheduled end time in case the conversation runs long.
• Write down your questions in advance. Some suggestions are below.

If you need to reschedule or cancel, do it as far ahead as you can so the supervisor can use the time for someone else.

How the call usually runs

Most intro calls follow roughly this shape:

1. Introductions.
2. You describe your current work, the supervision you need, and what you are looking for in a supervisor.
3. The supervisor describes their professional background and how they could support you.
4. You talk through scheduling and how often you would meet.
5. Closing questions from both sides.

Questions you might ask

• Why did you choose to become a supervisor?
• Can you tell me about your professional experience, including work settings, the modalities you use, and the populations you have served?
• Are there any clients you consider outside your scope or comfort of practice?
• How do your spiritual or religious beliefs intersect with your professional practice?
• How would your supervisees describe your approach to supervision?
• How do you manage the power dynamic in a supervisory relationship and build psychological safety?
• What happens if we disagree about a therapeutic approach or how to proceed with a client?
• How will you challenge me to become a better therapist?
• How will we incorporate self-of-the-therapist work in supervision?
• What do you look for in a supervisee who turns out to be a good match?

You do not need to ask all of these. Pick the few that matter most for the way you want to be supervised.

Questions you may be asked

Supervisors usually want to understand where you are in your licensure journey and what you want out of supervision. Come ready to answer:

• What would you like to tell me about yourself?
• What brought you to the field?
• Where are you working, what kinds of clients are you seeing, and what has your experience been so far?
• Other than supervision hours, what do you hope to gain from supervision?
• Where are you in your licensure journey, and how many hours do you still need?

After the call

Both of you decide separately whether to move forward, and supervision begins only if you both agree. Open Intro calls and select View details to record your answer.