Increasing confidence and clinical outcomes with deliberate practice

AHPRA recently released new professional competencies for psychologists, which will come into effect in December 2025. There are a few additions to the current competencies, including: ✅ deliberate practice ✅ self-care ✅ understanding neurodiversity ✅ trauma aware and trauma-informed practice ✅ Demonstrating health equity and a human-rights approach when working with diverse groups and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities I personally welcome the above additions and would like to see trauma-informed, inclusive and affirming practice as the norm for ALL humans and individual differences. I will be reviewing these new competencies and providing a summary of some of the new requirements, starting with deliberate practice, which falls under Competency 3: "Exercises professional reflexivity, purposeful and deliberate practice, and self-care" Deliberate practice is a purposeful and structured approach to skill development that can be incredibly helpful for new therapists wanting to improve their clinical practice. This method involves setting specific goals, engaging in repetitive practice, seeking immediate feedback, and continuously challenging oneself just beyond the current level of competence. Research has shown that deliberate practice is one of the most effective ways to accelerate skill acquisition and improve client outcomes (Chow et al., 2015). This article explores practical ways to implement deliberate practice in your professional development.

Set Specific Goals Setting clear and specific goals is a key component of effective deliberate practice. This might mean focusing on particular skills, such as developing empathic listening, reflecting on feelings/emotions, asking open-ended questions, tuning into body language, or effectively managing countertransference. By narrowing the focus to specific areas, and attending to just one area at a time, practice can be targeted more effectively. For example, you might decide to spend a specific period (this could be a few weeks) refining ONE particular skill, to achieve mastery before moving on to a new area. For example, you might decide to spend a month working on improving your ability to develop rapport with new clients.

Use Role-Playing Role-playing is an invaluable tool for developing clinical skills in a controlled environment, particularly if you are at the beginning of your learning journey. It allows therapists to practice challenging scenarios, such as handling difficult client interactions or exploring deep emotional issues, in a safe and structured way.

I have personally found training courses with a role-play component to be incredibly helpful, particularly when exercises focus on specific skills. Role-playing in supervision sessions can be a great way of obtaining real-time feedback from your supervisor. Alternatively, you could role-play with a colleague you can take turns with.

Record and Review Sessions Recording therapy sessions (with client consent) and reviewing them is a powerful method for self-reflection and skill improvement. This practice allows therapists to critically analyze their performance, focusing on specific techniques or interactions that can be improved. Reviewing recorded sessions with a supervisor or peer can provide additional insights and feedback. Observed assessment and intervention sessions are a mandatory requirement of the 4+2 or 5+1 pathway and most university training courses, however this can be beneficial for any therapist wanting to refine their skills.

Seek Immediate Feedback Immediate feedback is helpful in deliberate practice as it helps therapists quickly identify and correct mistakes. Whether your supervisor (or a peer) is directly reviewing your work, or if you are presenting cases in supervision (which may not involve direct observation), discussing your sessions as soon as possible will maximize the benefits of feedback, and allow you to quickly implement recommendations.

Keeping track of feedback and progress is important for maintaining motivation and ensuring continuous improvement. This can be done through self-assessment, supervisor feedback and using outcome measures (such as the Outcome Rating Scale) with clients. By continuously measuring your progress, you can see the tangible results of your efforts and identify areas where further practice is needed.

Reflective Journalling

Reflective journaling is another important aspect of deliberate practice. This method allows therapists to process their experiences, deepen self-awareness, and identify areas for improvement. Reflective practice is an essential component of the 4+2 and 5+1 internship pathways, where provisional psychologists are required to write weekly reflective journal entries or include reflections as part of the weekly logbooks. Fully registered psychologists are also required to reflect on all professional development activities. If you are unsure of what to include in your reflective journal you can download a free list of prompts below.

In summary, deliberate practice is important because it leads to faster skill development, better client outcomes, and a deeper level of professional growth. By engaging in deliberate, focused practice, you can continue to refine your clinical skills, and provide the highest quality care to your clients.

References:

Chow, D. L., Miller, S. D., Seidel, J. A., Kane, R. T., Thornton, J. A., & Andrews, W. P. (2015). The role of deliberate practice in the development of highly effective psychotherapists. Psychotherapy, 52(3), 337-345.