🎙️ In the Field: The ABA Podcast
Episode 24: Structuring Group Supervision for Maximum Impact
In Part 2 of our series on group supervision, Allyson takes a deep dive into the how of structuring group supervision so it’s not just compliant—but truly useful. We talk through practical, repeatable strategies that make group supervision more engaging and help you build real competency in your student analysts. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, make sure to go back and check it out—we laid the foundation for why group supervision matters and how to get started.
We also go through questions about navigating group supervision logistics, coordination across supervisors, and managing group dynamics—so stay tuned through the end!
🔑 Key Topics:
Instructional Strategies for Group Supervision
-
Peer Presentations: Empower trainees to teach one another on specific subtopics or procedures.
-
Case Consultation vs. Case Studies: Collaboratively problem-solve real cases or walk through crafted ones.
-
Guided Technical Skill Practice: Using BST to train hands-on skills like graphing, shaping, and writing goals.
-
Big-Picture Discussions: Use critical thinking prompts to move beyond definitions and into clinical reasoning.
-
Ethical Problem Solving: Navigate complex dilemmas as a group with guided discussions.
-
Research Reviews & Resource Shares: Let trainees lead the way in applying literature and tools to practice.
Documentation and Logistics
-
How to track group supervision and why consistency in facilitators matters.
-
Managing supervision across multiple BCBAs—what works and what to avoid.
-
Centralizing information with supervision portals or platforms like Slack or Teams.
Listener Q&A Highlights
-
✅ Does the BCBA running group supervision need to be on the trainee’s contract?
-
✅ How do you manage follow-up on competencies in a group setting?
-
✅ How to handle dominating voices or latecomers?
-
✅ How often should group supervision include client-specific content?
💡 Key Takeaways:
-
Structure builds sustainability: Use repeatable activity formats to bring consistency and clarity to group supervision.
-
Group supervision = skill building; individual supervision = application: Group is best for frontloading skills, while individual supervision personalizes and applies them.
-
Transparency and collaboration matter: Create open lines of communication between supervisors to align on expectations and feedback.
-
Set norms early: Proactively manage group dynamics with co-created norms and clear expectations.
🔍 Keywords:
Group Supervision, Behavior Analysis, BCBA Supervision, Training Coordinators, Supervision Systems, Competency-Based Supervision, BST, Peer Learning, Ethical Decision-Making, Applied Behavior Analysis, Fieldwork Supervision
💬 Got a question for the podcast?
Submit your questions at www.sidekicklearning.net/podcast—we’d love to feature them in a future episode!
🔔 Subscribe & Share:
If this episode helped you rethink how you structure your group supervision, share it with a colleague or your training team. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next one!
🧠 Explore more resources for supervision and CEUs at www.sidekicklearning.net