Exploring influences of supervision on psychotherapists’ professional development: Correlates across career-level cohorts

This exploratory study aims to extend and strengthen the empirical case for supervision as a facilitator of professional growth, as outlined in an established conceptual model, by exploring its correlates among psychotherapists across their entire professional career. Ratings of the impact of supervision by 6267 psychotherapists of different professions, theoretical orientations, and career levels in many countries who were currently in supervision were correlated, separately for each of five career cohorts, with aspects of their treatment experience, work situation, and personal characteristics. Large percentages of psychotherapists at all career levels, including senior psychotherapists, engaged in supervision and rated its impact on their development positively. Growth-facilitating supervision was associated broadly but moderately in all career cohorts mainly with interpersonal aspects of therapists’ treatment experience, with supportive work settings, and with caring and expressive personal characteristics. Some differential findings among cohorts also reflected potential developmentally based functions of supervision. The implications of results were considered both for supervisory practice, training and for future supervision research

Interactional positioning and narrative self-construction in the first session of psychodynamic-interpersonal psychotherapy

The purpose of this study is to identify possible session one indicators of end of treatment psychotherapy outcome using the framework of three types of interactional positioning; client’s self-positioning, client’s positioning between narrated self and different partners, and the positioning between client and therapist. Three successful cases of 8-session psychodynamic-interpersonal (PI) therapy were selected on the basis of client Beck Depression Inventory scores. One unsuccessful case was also selected against which identified patterns could be tested. The successful clients were more descriptive about their problems and demonstrated active rapport-building, while the therapist used positionings expressed by the client in order to explore the positionings developed between them during therapy. The unsuccessful case was characterized by lack of positive self-comment, minimization of agentic self-capacity, and empathy-disrupting narrative confusions. We conclude that the theory of interactional positioning has been useful in identifying patterns worth exploring as early indicators of success in PI therapy

Mathematical model of the dynamics of psychotherapy

The success of psychotherapy depends on the nature of the therapeutic relationship between a therapist and a client. We use dynamical systems theory to model the dynamics of the emotional interaction between a therapist and client. We determine how the therapeutic endpoint and the dynamics of getting there depend on the parameters of the model. Previously Gottman et al. used a very similar approach (physical-sciences paradigm) for modeling and making predictions about husband–wife relationships. Given that this novel approach shed light on the dyadic interaction between couples, we have applied it to the study of the relationship between therapist and client. The results of our computations provide a new perspective on the therapeutic relationship and a number of useful insights. Our goal is to create a model that is capable of making solid predictions about the dynamics of psychotherapy with the ultimate intention of using it to better train therapists

Cognitive behavioural therapy versus supportive therapy for persistent positive symptoms in psychotic disorders: The POSITIVE Study, a multicenter, prospective, single-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial

Background: It has been demonstrated that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has a moderate effect on symptom reduction and on general well being of patients suffering from psychosis. However, questions regarding the specific efficacy of CBT, the treatment safety, the cost-effectiveness, and the moderators and mediators of treatment effects are still a major issue. The major objective of this trial is to investigate whether CBT is specifically efficacious in reducing positive symptoms when compared with non-specific supportive therapy (ST) which does not implement CBT-techniques but provides comparable therapeutic attention. Methods: The POSITIVE study is a multicenter, prospective, single-blind, parallel group, randomised clinical trial, comparing CBT and ST with respect to the efficacy in reducing positive symptoms in psychotic disorders. CBT as well as ST consist of 20 sessions altogether, 165 participants receiving CBT and 165 participants receiving ST. Major methodological aspects of the study are systematic recruitment, explicit inclusion criteria, reliability checks of assessments with control for rater shift, analysis by intention to treat, data management using remote data entry, measures of quality assurance (e.g. on-site monitoring with source data verification, regular query process), advanced statistical analysis, manualized treatment, checks of adherence and competence of therapists. Research relating the psychotherapy process with outcome, neurobiological research addressing basic questions of delusion formation using fMRI and neuropsychological assessment and treatment research investigating adaptations of CBT for adolescents is combined in this network. Problems of transfer into routine clinical care will be identified and addressed by a project focusing on cost efficiency. Discussion: This clinical trial is part of efforts to intensify psychotherapy research in the field of psychosis in Germany, to contribute to the international discussion on psychotherapy in psychotic disorders, and to help implement psychotherapy in routine care. Furthermore, the study will allow drawing conclusions about the mediators of treatment effects of CBT of psychotic disorders. Trial Registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN2924287

"Now I know the terrain": phenomenological exploration of CFTs learning on evidence-based practice

Couple and family therapists are rarely the focus of research yet are critical for positive outcomes in therapy. The attempts to integrate evidence-based approaches into the practice of couple and family therapy have been controversial resulting in passionate and at times divisive dialogue. The aims of this research project were to explore what do couple and family therapists experience when learning an evidence-based approach to working with couples and families. A total of 14 couple and family therapists were interviewed about their experience with learning an evidence-based approach. The research was guided methodologically by interpretive phenomenological analysis. Three themes emerged from the participants’ experiences including: the supports and challenges in learning; the embodiment of a therapy practice; and the experience of shame while learning

Ninety psychotherapy training programmes across the globe: Variations and commonalities in an international context

Objective: Psychotherapist training programmes have arguably a most impactful intervention on the field of psychotherapy, shaping the kinds of therapists their graduates become. Yet, little is known about the structural and organisational similarities and differences of these key learning environments in an international context. Method: Ninety psychotherapy training programmes in 16 different countries comprised data for a study initiated by members of the SPR Interest Section on Therapist Training and Development (SPRISTAD). Training directors or senior faculty completed the Training Program Description Form (TPDF), surveying, for example, organisational setting and size, educational/occupational prerequisites, trainee funding and schedules, educational methods and graduation criteria. Results: Among otherwise highly diverse programmes, the most consistent finding was commitment to relationship-based experiential learning, including direct supervision of trainees' treatment cases and case discussions with experts and peers. Criteria for selecting applicants focussed mainly on their personal qualities (empathy, self-awareness and good mental health), supplemented by evaluations of relevant intellectual qualities (psychological-mindedness, theoretical interest and intelligence). Training consistently focussed on individual psychotherapy as the dominant treatment modality. Conclusion: Across countries, essential commonalities among psychotherapy training programmes emerged. Findings suggest there may be common ground for developing therapist training, as knowledge increases on beneficial therapist characteristics and their formation.</p

Psychotherapieausbildung in Österreich. Teil 1: Basisdaten und soziodemographische Hintergrunddaten aus der SPRISTAD-Studie [Psychotherapy training in Austria. Part 1: Basic and sociodemographic data from the SPRISTAD study]

Die vorliegende Arbeit stellt einen ersten Einblick in die Ausbildungssituation für Psychotherapeuten in Österreich dar. Auf Grundlage einer Befragung von Kandidaten zu Beginn ihrer Ausbildung werden die Voraussetzungen von Psychotherapieausbildungskandidaten in Österreich betrachtet. Psychotherapeuten wurden am Beginn ihrer Ausbildung in Hinblick auf ihre soziodemografischen Hintergrunddaten und ihren bisherigen Bildungsweg befragt. Diese Hintergrunddaten wurden im Rahmen der internationalen Studie zur Ausbildung und beruflichen Entwicklung von Psychotherapeuten (Society of Psychotherapy Research Interest Section on Therapist Training and Development [SPRISTAD]) mit der Trainee Background Information Form (TBIF) erfasst. Da es sich um eine explorative Studie handelt, können die Ergebnisse der Hintergrunddaten der bisher 197 Teilnehmenden als Ausgangpunkt für weiterführende Forschung im Bereich Psychotherapieausbildung und Kompetenzentwicklung gesehen werden. Die Ergebnisse werden im Detail demnächst berichtet, sodass weitergehend sowohl auf nationale Bedingungen als auch Möglichkeiten für zukünftige interdisziplinäre Forschung eingegangen werden kann.The present work provides preliminary insight into the training situation for psychotherapists in Austria. On the basis of a survey of candidates at the beginning of their training, the requirements of psychotherapeutic training candidates in Austria are considered. Psychotherapists in training were interviewed at the beginning of their training concerning their sociodemographic background data and prior education. This background data was collected using the Trainee Background Information Form (TBIF), which was designed by the Society for Psychotherapy Research Interest Section on Therapist Training and Development (SPRISTAD). As this is an exploratory study, the results of the background data can be seen as a starting point for further research in psychotherapy training and competence development. Results will be published soon, so that both countrywide conditions and opportunities for future interdisciplinary research can be considered.(VLID)360156