Session D1 | Workshop | Part 1
Tracks
Stream D
| Friday, September 18, 2026 |
| 2:00 PM - 3:45 PM |
Overview
From Knowledge to Mastery: A Deliberate Practice for supervisors and supervisees - Aaron Frost (105 mins)
Details
This workshop will run over two session blocks, D1 & D2 | 2:00 - 3:45 pm & 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Presenter
Dr Aaron Frost
Benchmark Psychology
From Knowledge to Mastery: A Deliberate Practice for supervisors and supervisees
2:00 PM - 6:00 PMAbstract
The transition from academic knowledge to clinical mastery is one of the most challenging phases in a psychologist’s career. While traditional professional development often focuses on "knowing more," research suggests that clinical expertise is not merely a byproduct of experience, but rather the result of Deliberate Practice (DP). This half-day, intensive workshop moves beyond theory to provide early career psychologists with a high-impact, experiential environment designed to sharpen their clinical reflexes and interpersonal effectiveness.
Deliberate Practice involves a disciplined cycle of performance, immediate feedback, and repetitive rehearsal of specific skills. Unlike standard supervision, which often relies on retrospective self-reporting, this workshop utilises live simulation and behavioural rehearsal to bridge the "theory-to-practice" gap. By focusing on "thin-slices" of clinical interaction—such as managing high-arousal moments, navigating ruptures in the therapeutic alliance, or delivering difficult feedback—participants can refine their skills in a psychologically safe, low-stakes environment before applying them in high-stakes clinical settings.
The workshop is structured around a hands-on, interactive pedagogy. Participants will engage in:
Expert Demonstrations: Observing nuanced clinical interventions modelled by facilitators to identify the subtle behavioural markers of effective therapy.
Simulated Consultations: Working through standardised clinical scenarios that mirror the complexities of real-world practice.
Iterative Roleplay: Engaging in "pause-and-replay" exercises where participants receive real-time coaching, allowing them to adjust their approach and re-rehearse until the skill is integrated.
Feedback Loops: Utilising peer and facilitator feedback to identify "growth edges" and develop personalised DP plans for ongoing professional development.
By the conclusion of this workshop, attendees will have moved past the passive consumption of information into the active embodiment of clinical skill. This session is essential for early career psychologists looking to accelerate their professional growth, increase their confidence in the therapy room, and establish a lifelong habit of excellence through the science of deliberate practice.
Deliberate Practice involves a disciplined cycle of performance, immediate feedback, and repetitive rehearsal of specific skills. Unlike standard supervision, which often relies on retrospective self-reporting, this workshop utilises live simulation and behavioural rehearsal to bridge the "theory-to-practice" gap. By focusing on "thin-slices" of clinical interaction—such as managing high-arousal moments, navigating ruptures in the therapeutic alliance, or delivering difficult feedback—participants can refine their skills in a psychologically safe, low-stakes environment before applying them in high-stakes clinical settings.
The workshop is structured around a hands-on, interactive pedagogy. Participants will engage in:
Expert Demonstrations: Observing nuanced clinical interventions modelled by facilitators to identify the subtle behavioural markers of effective therapy.
Simulated Consultations: Working through standardised clinical scenarios that mirror the complexities of real-world practice.
Iterative Roleplay: Engaging in "pause-and-replay" exercises where participants receive real-time coaching, allowing them to adjust their approach and re-rehearse until the skill is integrated.
Feedback Loops: Utilising peer and facilitator feedback to identify "growth edges" and develop personalised DP plans for ongoing professional development.
By the conclusion of this workshop, attendees will have moved past the passive consumption of information into the active embodiment of clinical skill. This session is essential for early career psychologists looking to accelerate their professional growth, increase their confidence in the therapy room, and establish a lifelong habit of excellence through the science of deliberate practice.
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Dr Aaron Frost is an Australian clinical psychologist, educator, and former national director of the Australian Psychological Society, with over two decades of experience in clinical practice, supervision, training, and professional governance. He has held senior leadership roles including APS Board Director, Chair of the Queensland College of Clinical Psychologists, and lead roles in national training and competency development initiatives.
Dr Frost’s current work focuses on the application of deliberate practice frameworks in clinical supervision, with a particular emphasis on observable skills, structured feedback, and the development of supervisory systems that move beyond time- and exposure-based models. He works closely with supervisors and training programs to improve consistency, fairness, and skill acquisition through evidence-informed supervision design.
Bringing together clinical expertise, educational psychology, and systems thinking, Dr Frost is known. translating theory into practical supervision models that support both supervisor confidence and trainee capability.
