Prepare for an intro call

An intro call is a fit conversation in both directions. The supervisee is deciding whether they want to be supervised by you, and you are deciding whether you can serve them well. Most run 20 to 30 minutes.

Before the call

• Read the request details first. The supervisee has already told you the license they are working toward, the state, their work setting, their placement site, and when they want to start. Reading it beforehand saves five minutes of the call.
• Check that you can actually meet their board's requirements for their license type and state. This is the single most common reason a promising match falls apart later.
• Be somewhere quiet and private, at a desk, with your camera on.
• Test your camera, microphone, and connection ahead of time.
• Dress as you would for a professional meeting.
• Leave a little buffer afterward. Good calls run long.
• Know your own availability and what you can realistically take on.

How the call usually runs

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

Questions worth asking

• What would you like to tell me about yourself?
• What brought you to this 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 get out of supervision?
• Where are you in your licensure journey, and how many hours do you still need?

Questions you are likely to be asked

Supervisees are often coached to come with questions. The ones that come up most:

• Why did you choose to become a supervisor?
• Can you describe your professional experience, including work settings, modalities, and the populations you have served?
• Are there 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 supervision 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?
• What do you look for in a supervisee who turns out to be a good match?

Employer intro calls

When the request comes from an employer rather than a supervisee, you are meeting a representative of the organization, not the person you would supervise. Expect questions about your capacity, the session formats you offer, and how you handle board compliance. A Motivo account manager often joins these calls and hosts the Zoom meeting.

After the call

Both of you record a decision separately, and supervision starts only if you both agree. Do it while the call is fresh, since the supervisee is usually waiting on you before they talk to anyone else.