Therapist Scope of Competence: Recognizing When You’re Out of Your Depth
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby is a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, board-certified coach, AAMFT clinical supervisor, host of the Love, Happiness, and Success Podcast and founder of Growing Self.
Therapist, have you ever found yourself mid-session with a client thinking, “Oh no… am I actually equipped to handle this? Will my therapeutic skills be effective?” Maybe you’re nodding and empathizing on the outside while mentally Googling a treatment strategy or a diagnosis after they leave. If so, you’re not alone—but we need to talk about your therapist scope of competence.
As therapists, we face complex issues daily, often in gray areas where our confidence in expertise doesn’t feel quite solid. And that’s okay—our profession requires lifelong learning. But here’s the thing: practicing outside your scope of competence doesn’t just impact you; it can affect your clients in deeply meaningful ways. Ethically, it’s on us to be self-aware and proactive about recognizing where our expertise ends and where referrals (or growth opportunities) begin.
In this article, I’ll unpack the signs that you might be straying from your therapist scope of competence, share actionable strategies to safeguard your practice, and help you confidently navigate those fuzzy “in-between” zones. Let’s dive in!
My Personal Journey with Competence Boundaries
Early in my career, I said yes to clients whose needs far exceeded my skill set. A client once asked for career counseling, and while I had experience in emotional intelligence at work, I quickly realized I was out of my depth when it came to aptitude tests and career inventories. It was a humbling (but necessary) lesson to make referrals and invest in professional growth.
Why Scope of Competence Matters
We therapists wear many hats—listener, guide, problem-solver—but we’re not superheroes. When we stretch too far, we risk doing more harm than good. For example, you might specialize in eating disorders, but when a client comes to you wanting couples counseling, saying yes might feel like the right thing to do. However, without proper training in relational dynamics, you could inadvertently damage trust—or worse, their relationship.
Understanding our scope of competence is not about perfection or knowing everything. It’s about recognizing where we excel, where we’re growing, and where we simply need to step aside.
Signs You’re Practicing Outside Your Scope
- Flying by the Seat of Your Pants: If you’re brainstorming treatment plans based on vague recollections of grad school textbooks or past workshops, that’s a red flag.
- Googling After Sessions: Researching interventions post-session isn’t inherently bad, but if you’re consistently relying on this, it might mean you’re in over your head.
- Clients Aren’t Progressing: Lack of client progress isn’t always a competence issue, but it’s worth reflecting: Are your skills aligning with their needs?
- Avoiding Peer Consultation: If you hesitate to share case details with peers or supervisors, it might be because deep down, you know you’re off-track.
- “Eclectic” Isn’t Cutting It: While eclecticism can be a strength, it needs to be grounded in a clear case conceptualization and evidence-based approaches
It’s Time To Take Care of You, Too.
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Green, Yellow, and Red Zones of Competence
Here’s a core competencies framework I use with my supervisees:
- Green Zone: Your area of expertise. These are issues you’ve trained in, have experience with, and feel confident addressing.
- Yellow Zone: Growth opportunities. These are areas where you’re building knowledge or considering further training—but it’s still a work in progress.
- Red Zone: Off-limits. These are topics you have little to no training in and should refer out immediately. (For me, this includes substance use disorders and bipolar disorder—I know my limits!)
Strategies for Staying in Your Zone (and Thriving)
1. Build Your Dream Referral Network
Create a “professional bouquet” of trusted experts in areas outside your wheelhouse. Whether it’s trauma specialists, career counselors, or addiction therapists, knowing who to call makes referring out easy and ethical.
2. Invest in Continuing Education
Don’t just check the CEU box—make it count. For example, if couples counseling is in your yellow zone, commit to evidence-based training programs or externships. Not sure where to start? Check out my podcast episode on identifying your niche as a therapist.
3. Develop a Growth Plan
Create a roadmap for professional development. What skills would you like to sharpen in the next two years? Reverse-engineer the steps needed to move yellow-zone skills into your green zone. Therapists need to grow too.
4. Practice Clear Communication
When a client’s needs evolve beyond your expertise, be honest. For example:
“We’ve made great progress together, but I believe your next steps would be best supported by someone with expertise in [specific area]. I’d be happy to connect you with an incredible specialist I trust.”
5. Reflect Regularly
Dedicate time to self-assessment. Ask yourself:
- Are my clients progressing?
- Do I feel confident in my interventions?
- What training or resources would enhance my ability to serve?
Growth Resources From Me to You!
Understanding your scope of competence as a therapist can be tricky. Therapists like you do incredible work. But let’s be honest—it’s hard to navigate sometimes! That’s why I created the LHS for Therapists podcast and my weekly For Therapists newsletter. I’m here to support you, just like you support your clients.
In my weekly newsletter, I gather advice from my interviews with industry experts, the latest research on therapeutic modalities, and strategies for personal and professional growth to help you be the best therapist you can be—without burning out in the process. If you’d like that steady stream of professional insights, free resources, and a little extra emotional support, sign up for my newsletter here. It is such an honor for me to be able to support you and the amazing work that you do with your clients. You give so much—let me give back to you.
If we’re not already connected on LinkedIn, let’s change that! I love sharing little nuggets of insight, resources, and ideas to help therapists like you grow and thrive. Plus, it’s a great way for us to keep this conversation going and support each other in our work. You can find me here—I’d love to hear from you!
Xoxo,
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
P.S. Do you know a fellow therapist who could use this advice? Share this article with them, or better yet, your whole professional community. Let’s keep learning and growing together.
Resources:
Fairburn, C. G., & Cooper, Z. (2011). Therapist competence, therapy quality, and therapist training. Behaviour research and therapy, 49(6-7), 373-378. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796711000647
Sperry, L. (2011). Core competencies in counseling and psychotherapy: Becoming a highly competent and effective therapist. Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780203893999/core-competencies-counseling-psychotherapy-len-sperry
Kazantzis, N. (2003). Therapist competence in cognitive-behavioural therapies: Review of the contemporary empirical evidence. Behaviour Change, 20(1), 1-12. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behaviour-change/article/therapist-competence-in-cognitivebehavioural-therapies-review-of-the-contemporary-empirical-evidence/FE97D3FD748CA02701524013D10387EF
Brodhead, M. T., Quigley, S. P., & Wilczynski, S. M. (2018). A Call for Discussion About Scope of Competence in Behavior Analysis. Behavior analysis in practice, 11(4), 424–435. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6269378/
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