Valuing and Practicing Competency-Based Supervision: A Transformational Leadership Perspective

A significant culture change to a competency-based approach to supervision reflects the current zeitgeist in professional psychology education and training. Accreditation, credentialing, regulation, and training have all been transformed to competency-based approaches. However, the transition within a program to a competency-based approach is not always smooth. This article addresses specific leadership competencies that facilitate change, with attention paid to the supervisory process. Because most leaders in professional psychology have traditionally engaged in transactional leadership, a shift is required to transformational leadership, a style associated with effective change. As a backdrop to the focus on a transformational leadership approach and competency-based supervision, this article first overviews the competencies movement, particularly competency-based clinical supervision. Then transformational leadership is applied to changing educational and training cultures and climates to ensure the consistent and comprehensive implementation of a competency-based approach to clinical supervision. Strategies are offered for implementing such an approach to competency-based clinical supervision, as well as for overcoming barriers to implementation.