Commentary: Goldilocks Revisited: Do We Need More Practice Competencies in Pediatric Psychology?

This article focuses on the publication of the Thompson et al. competencies framework for pediatric palliative care, situating it as the third set of practice guidelines within pediatric psychology. It discusses the ongoing tension between broad specialist training in clinical child psychology and increasing subspecialization within pediatric psychology, particularly regarding teaching, training, and patient care. The authors highlight the need to balance general clinical child competencies with narrower subspecialty skills, raising critical questions about the timing, scope, and integration of subspecialty training. They advocate for reserving the term "competencies" for higher-level, broad-based skills while suggesting that more specific practice frameworks and skills be developed to support subspecialty growth without fragmenting the field. The article calls for further discussion and coordinated efforts to address these challenges within pediatric psychology education and practice.