The field of psychology has struggled to define what it is that makes an expert therapist expert. Just as elusive has been the ability to know and articulate how one achieves expertise as a therapist. In their major contribution, Hill, Spiegel, Hoffman, Kivlighan, and Gelso identify a number of constructs that researchers interested in assessing expertise can consider and evaluate. In this reaction to their article, we share where we are in agreement with the authors and where our thoughts diverge. We conclude with what we deem to be missing from this discussion regarding therapist expertise—power and privilege as it relates to who decides what makes an expert.
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