Navigating Difficult Feedback: A Guide to Supervising with Accountability and Empathy

Course Description:

Delivering constructive feedback is a cornerstone of effective supervision—but when the conversation gets tough, even seasoned leaders can struggle. This CEU provides a practical, research-informed framework for addressing challenging supervisory moments with confidence, clarity, and compassion.

Participants will explore how to create a supportive feedback culture, use structured conversation strategies, and balance empathy with accountability to drive meaningful behavior change. Through real-world scenarios and actionable takeaways, this session equips BCBAs with tools to foster growth and maintain strong, ethical supervisory relationships.

Whether you’re supervising RBTs, mentoring trainees, or leading a clinical team, this CEU will help you tackle hard conversations and support professional development in a way that builds trust, strengthens performance, and aligns with BACB supervision standards.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe characteristics of effective and ethical feedback
• Implement a four-step structure for delivering difficult feedback
• Recognize and manage emotional responses during challenging conversations
• Identify techniques that balance empathy and accountability in supervision
• Apply strategies for developing a feedback-forward clinical culture