Expectations & Policies
Clear expectations protect our working relationship and your clinical growth. This page outlines what you can expect from me, what I ask of you, how we handle challenges through a performance improvement plan, and the policies that keep our supervision transparent and safe.
What to Expect in Supervision
I know starting with a new supervisor can be daunting. Here is exactly how our meetings will look and feel, designed to remove the guesswork for neurodivergent brains.
Our First Meeting
This session is purely for orientation. We will review the supervision agreement, outline your goals, and discuss your learning style. There is no pressure to present a complex case! This time is for us to align on communication, sensory preferences, and how we will structure our ongoing time.
Ongoing Sessions
We follow a predictable rhythm. We start with a personal and professional check-in and highlight any urgent safety or ethical concerns. Then, we move into the agenda you bring which may include case conceptualization, documentation, or professional identity. We reserve the last few minutes for takeaways and reviewing your hours log. This is a loose structure to give you a sense of what to expect. We will work together to update it so that it matches your needs.
Sensory & Processing Needs
Unmasking, using fidgets, needing to move around, avoiding eye contact, and direct, blunt communication are all welcome here. If you process better with visual aids, need a minute of quiet to think, or want follow-up notes in writing, just let me know. We build a routine that works for your brain.
Supervision Agreement
The formal foundation of our clinical work together.
Before we begin accumulating hours, the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors requires a formal Supervision Contract. This document outlines our legal and ethical responsibilities, emergency protocols, and the specific goals we are setting for your associate licensure period.
I will provide a customized agreement during our onboarding process. We will review it together, sign it, and submit it to the board. It serves as your roadmap and protects both your practice and your clients.
Mutual Expectations
Supervision is a partnership. Here is what each of us brings to it.
What I Expect From You
- Arrive prepared with session notes, questions, and case material such as recordings, assessments, or client examples.
- Arrive on time and give at least 24 hours' notice for a cancellation.
- Keep accurate supervision logs and licensure hour documentation.
- Practice within your scope of competence and consult promptly when you are unsure.
- Bring ethical dilemmas and mistakes to supervision rather than working around them.
- Engage openly with feedback, identity, power, and culture in our work together.
What You Can Expect From Me
- Protect our time and start and end sessions on schedule.
- Tailor supervision to your developmental stage, caseload, and professional goals.
- Give direct, kind, and specific feedback you can actually act on.
- Be reachable between sessions for genuine clinical concerns.
- Provide honest evaluations and complete required licensure paperwork on time.
- Bring an anti-oppressive, affirming lens to every case we discuss.
Performance Improvement Plan
Most supervision moves forward smoothly. When a specific concern about your clinical work or professional conduct arises, we address it together through a written Performance Improvement Plan designed to function as a supportive, structured tool designed to help you get back on track.
Concerns We Might Address
- Supervision or client documentation consistently incomplete or late
- Difficulty practicing within scope or managing professional boundaries
- Repeated lateness or missed supervision sessions
- Concerns about client safety, risk assessment, or ethical decision-making
- Underdeveloped case conceptualization or limited openness to feedback
- Unprofessional communication in group or with referral sources
How the Plan Works
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1
Name the concern
We describe the concern together in plain language, with specific, real examples rather than vague impressions.
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2
Set clear goals
We define measurable goals and what success will look like within a set timeframe.
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3
Agree on a timeline
Plans typically run 60 to 90 days, with the supports and resources you need to succeed.
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4
Check in regularly
We build in short review points to track progress and adjust the plan as we go.
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5
Review the outcome
At the end we confirm goals are met, extend the plan, or, if unresolved, discuss next steps and referral options honestly.
The plan is a shared document. You receive a written copy and are welcome to add your own goals and context. Every review keeps your professional growth blame at the center rather than blame.
Policies & Logistics
Practical agreements that keep our work predictable, ethical, and safe.
Scheduling & Cancellation
Sessions are typically 60 minutes. The expectation is that we both give at least 24 hours' notice for a cancellation. Rescheduling is always welcome.
Confidentiality & Limits
What you share in supervision stays confidential, with the same limits that apply to clinical care including risk of harm to self or others and certain legal obligations. Group content remains confidential within the group.
Crisis & Between-Session Support
For non-urgent questions, email me and expect a reply within one business day. Supervision is not a crisis service. In a client emergency, follow your agency protocol and call 911 or 988 for imminent risk.
Group Supervision Norms
Groups are capped at four supervisees. We practice mutual respect for differing viewpoints and protect each member's confidentiality. Sensitive personal issues may be moved to individual supervision.
Documentation & Evaluation
I track your licensure hours and complete NCBLCMHC quarterly reports and your final evaluation. Keeping your supervision log current is a shared responsibility.
Scope & Ethical Practice
We both agree to practice within our scope of competence, follow the ACA Code of Ethics, and consult promptly on any concern that affects client welfare and feels outside of our range of knowledge.
Questions About Any of This?
I am glad to talk through the expectations, the improvement plan process, or any policy before we begin working together.