Competence in Psychotherapy

The field of mental health care places great importance on the developing, testing, and disseminating of evidence-based therapies. Correspondingly, the profession emphasizes the identifying, practicing, and promulgating of therapists’ competencies in delivering these treatments. Attaining and maintaining the skills, attitudes, and knowledge of clinical competence as a therapist and supervisor is a core value in the field of psychotherapy. The pathway to competence and expertise involves appropriate training, supervision, and continuing education, with the goal of providing a high standard of care to patients while simultaneously acting responsibly toward society as a whole. A framework for evaluating competency in psychotherapy is summarized in this entry.