ABSTRACT
First impressions are important, and this is certainly true of first supervision sessions as well. Similar to first counseling sessions and first classroom meetings, supervisors need to approach initial sessions with a supervisee with some deliberate attention to the purpose and goals to be addressed. There are both important procedural tasks and contextual and relationship issues that need to be addressed. In the initial session, a supervisor sets the tone for the rest of the supervisory experience. Thus, it is prudent for you to plan carefully-intentionally-for this first meeting. Think ahead to the close of this initial session: What do you want your supervisee to be thinking and feeling when he or she leaves? After the first session, how do you want the supervisee to describe his or her anticipations about working with you to a colleague and fellow student? For some supervisors, friendly and supportive may be high on their list. For others, challenging but fair may be the preferred descriptor. It may be that you would have different goals based on the supervisee (e.g., developmental or experience level, previous interactions with the supervisee in another context).
