Supervising with Cultural Responsiveness: Addressing Bias, Power, and Partnership in Behavior Analysis

Abstract

Supervision is not only a vehicle for developing competent future behavior analysts, it is also an opportunity to model and instill the values of cultural responsiveness, self-awareness, and ethical decision-making. Providing robust training on these topics remains important as our future generation of leaders leave their graduate programs without specific training related to the diverse populations they will encounter in the course of their careers. This presentation will provide practical ways supervisors can foster authentic relationships that are responsive to the needs and experiences of the supervisee. We will explore cultural “hotspots” and power dynamics within the supervisory context, promoting bidirectional feedback, and strategies for preventing and navigating conflict in ways that preserve trust and respect. Attendees will engage with practical tools for self-reflection, discussion prompts, and case scenarios designed to prepare them to support diverse supervisees in practicing with cultural competence. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to enhance supervisory relationships, ensure ethical alignment, and prepare the next generation of behavior analysts to provide equitable, culturally responsive services.

Learning Objectives

1. Attendees will identify key ethics codes and rationale for providing culturally responsive supervision.
2. Attendees will obtain the tools to establish and maintain authentic, trusted mentorship relationships.
3. Attendees will apply conflict resolution strategies to address difficulty conversations.
4. Attendees will reflect on their own intersectional identities and identify potential power dynamics across various supervisory relationships.

This webinar offers 1.5 BACB Supervision CEU.

Cost

• CASP Members - free
• non-members - $20