What counts as deliberate practice? A systematic review

The study: A systematic review of 20 quantitative studies, with quality ratings for each, focused on how deliberate practice has been defined and put into practice.

What they found: The way studies operationalized deliberate practice varied widely, and only three met the current expert definition. Methodological problems limited confidence in the results, and the authors conclude the evidence is too preliminary to support or refute its use.

Why it matters for practice: A call for precision. If we want to know whether deliberate practice works, studies need to test the real thing, with stronger designs and client outcomes.

Diamond, G., Wlodek, B., Arthey, S., & Parker, S. (2025). A systematic review of deliberate practice in psychotherapy: Definitions, operationalization, and preliminary outcomes. Psychotherapy, 62(2), 113–131. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000569