Supervision Starter: 13 questions to ask before taking on a new supervisee

It can be challenging to determine compatibility and good fit when exploring the supervision relationship. If you are offering supervision in private practice, it is important to remember the responsibility and liability you hold for any clinician under your care. 

What are their ethics? 

What’s their background and training? 

What contracts and agreements need to be put in place to support the professional supervision relationship?

Supervision doesn’t have to be scary. Let’s take a look at some important questions that can aid in the exploration process for best fit within the supervisory relationship!

1.  What aspect(s) brought you to contact and interview for supervision?

This question can identify the clinician’s requirements like pursuing supervision for licensure, credentialing, or internship needs.

2. What is your most recent college degree______________and major___________________?

Does this match what you can offer as a supervisor? Does this aid in decision making in being aware of their program rigor and preparation for the field? Does this match their resume?

3. What is your experience working in the mental health field?

How is their experience compatible with their next steps in professional growth? Has this helped them identify preferred populations, desired niche, or further training goals?

4. Do you have any specific/special training/certificates in the mental health field other than your degree?

This question can identify a supervisee’s career goals and supervision needs specific to pursuing certification or additional credentials. Will they need a supervisor who is approved to sign off on a specific credential? Does the supervisor have a similar focus or field of expertise?

5.  Describe your career aspirations?  How can supervision help you attain them?

What’s the clinician’s end goal? Examples may include private practice, registered play therapist or EMDR certification.

6.  What qualifications/characteristics do you look for in a supervisor?

An important questions that can bring context to fit in the supervisory relationship! Are they self-aware of what they need in regards to support, administrative needs, and clinical case conceptualization?

7. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This question encourages exploration into how you can support them in professional growth through the supervision relationship.

8. How do you manage self-care?

Can be helpful in gaining insight into their work-life balance and ability to remain objective under pressure with client needs and/or career demands.

9. Explain your perception of boundaries?

Has the supervisee had experience enforcing boundaries in the therapeutic relationship? How successful were they? Is this an area of strength? Growth?

10.  Are there any client populations, referral behaviors, family belief systems, etc. that you would not feel comfortable working with? Why?   

A supervisee’s response can provide clarification of fit for populations served within their work, limits when working with certain populations and/or diagnoses, and can identify growth opportunities when working with a diverse clientele.

11.  What is your favorite client population to work with? Why? 

Can support niche development and referral compatibility. 

12.  Have you ever had a complaint filed against you in the mental health field?

Does this match records with their licensing board? Can you verify their current status and standing with licensure?

13.  Do you have malpractice insurance?

An important component that may be required by you as the supervisor in taking on the supervisee.

The questions we’ve included are a great starting point to get to know a potential supervisee’s wants, needs, and skill set. Not only can you identify their current standing, but resopnses can also streamline goal setting should the professional relationship progress! Supervision is one of the most fulfilling professional relationships a mental health clinicians can cultivate! Streamlining your start with these questions can put you on the path to compatibility and best fit.

Written by Khara Croswaite Brindle, MA, LPC, ACS