As a mentor, the pitfall of dependency is one you need to stay aware of and yet not become distracted by. Asking the mentee to assist in monitoring the potential issue isn’t helpful. Also, you can distract or waste time looking for issues that are not there instead of focusing on positive topics, such as the mentee’s progress. As a mentor, you can combine the potential issue of dependency with your occasional reflections, perhaps using the questions below (write notes, or simply read them through) to prompt thought. You might also reflect on the mentoring principles, occasionally, to ensure they still feel present in the relationship.