Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Beutler, Larry E.

doi: 10.1037/h0092553pmid: N/A

Guest, Paul D.; Beutler, Larry E.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.56.5.653pmid: N/A

Research has suggestedthat psychotherapy skills are developed and valued depending in part on the level oftrainee experience. Beginning trainees tend to value and benefit from supervisor support,whereas later trainees tend to gravitate toward technical guidance. This cycle may berepeated with continuing experience. We present illustrative data from our own research tosuggest that several years after training, early supervisory experiences may still exertan effect on one’s theoretical position.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.56.5.653pmid: N/A

Research has suggestedthat psychotherapy skills are developed and valued depending in part on the level oftrainee experience. Beginning trainees tend to value and benefit from supervisor support,whereas later trainees tend to gravitate toward technical guidance. This cycle may berepeated with continuing experience. We present illustrative data from our own research tosuggest that several years after training, early supervisory experiences may still exertan effect on one’s theoretical position.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.56.5.659pmid: N/A

In the prevalentclinical training model, experienced clinicians provide direct supervision for apprenticetrainee/interns. The literature provides some indications of what and how evaluations oftraining could be conducted. This literature is reviewed, and guidelines are offered fordeveloping an evaluation package to provide ongoing (a) performance evaluation ofinternship training and (b) data collection to support psychotherapy research within thetraining program.

Newman, Frederick L; Kopta, Stephen Mark; McGovern, Mark P.; Howard, Kenneth I.; McNeilly, Cheryl L.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.56.5.659pmid: N/A

In the prevalentclinical training model, experienced clinicians provide direct supervision for apprenticetrainee/interns. The literature provides some indications of what and how evaluations oftraining could be conducted. This literature is reviewed, and guidelines are offered fordeveloping an evaluation package to provide ongoing (a) performance evaluation ofinternship training and (b) data collection to support psychotherapy research within thetraining program.

Shaw, Brian F.; Dobson, Keith S.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.56.5.666pmid: N/A

Competency orskillfulness refers to the quality of the therapist’s interventions. Competencyevaluations, although difficult to make, are useful in the training of psychotherapists.Several competency scales are reviewed, and most of these raise significant concerns aboutinterrater reliability and predictive validity. It is argued that competency is bestconsidered a state-like variable, with therapists demonstrating higher competence whenthey skillfully treat patients across a range of difficulty levels. Competency scales mayfacilitate the development of a generally accepted standard within a specificpsychotherapeutic modality. For competency measures to gain practical acceptance,supervisors must accept their value for documenting replicable qualitative observations oftherapists’ behavior both within and across cases. The development of standards ofpsychotherapy practice awaits further scale development and research.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.56.5.666pmid: N/A

Competency orskillfulness refers to the quality of the therapist’s interventions. Competencyevaluations, although difficult to make, are useful in the training of psychotherapists.Several competency scales are reviewed, and most of these raise significant concerns aboutinterrater reliability and predictive validity. It is argued that competency is bestconsidered a state-like variable, with therapists demonstrating higher competence whenthey skillfully treat patients across a range of difficulty levels. Competency scales mayfacilitate the development of a generally accepted standard within a specificpsychotherapeutic modality. For competency measures to gain practical acceptance,supervisors must accept their value for documenting replicable qualitative observations oftherapists’ behavior both within and across cases. The development of standards ofpsychotherapy practice awaits further scale development and research.

Dobson, Keith S.; Shaw, Brian F.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.56.5.673pmid: N/A

This article tracessome historical developments in the use of treatment manuals in psychotherapy research andreviews characteristics that have facilitated the development of cognitive therapymanuals. Arguments in favor of and opposed to the further development of treatment manualsare reviewed. Where cognitive therapy research exists that is relevant to these arguments,it is reviewed; where research does not exist, suggestions are provided for research anddata that may address these arguments. The article concludes by suggesting three generalareas for future treatment-manual research.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.56.5.673pmid: N/A

This article tracessome historical developments in the use of treatment manuals in psychotherapy research andreviews characteristics that have facilitated the development of cognitive therapymanuals. Arguments in favor of and opposed to the further development of treatment manualsare reviewed. Where cognitive therapy research exists that is relevant to these arguments,it is reviewed; where research does not exist, suggestions are provided for research anddata that may address these arguments. The article concludes by suggesting three generalareas for future treatment-manual research.

Rounsaville, Bruce J.; O’Malley, Stephanie; Foley, Susan; Weissman, Myrna M.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.56.5.681pmid: N/A

This article reviewsfindings from manual-guided training programs in short-term interpersonal psychotherapy(IPT) for depression, an exploratory treatment that focuses on symptom reduction andimprovement of social functioning. The literature revealed (a) that experienced,dynamically trained therapists were able to achieve a high level of competence in IPTafter comparatively brief training and were able to maintain adherence to the manual overa lengthy study; (b) that general dimensions of the psychotherapy process, includingtherapist warmth and patient difficulty, were highly correlated with ratings of therapistcompetence in the performance of IPT; and (c) that therapists judged as performing IPTmore competently tended to be more effective. Although definitive evidence on theeffectiveness of manual-guided training is lacking, the use of manuals and systematictherapist training appear to be useful for the conduct of psychotherapy efficacy research.Findings showing that manual adherence is related to therapist efficacy suggest a role forthese procedures in clinical training and competency determination.