A translational model of research-practice integration.

Abstract

We propose a four-level, recursive Research-Practice Integration framework as a heuristic to (a) integrate and reflect on the articles in this Special Section as contributing to a bidirectional bridge between research and practice, and (b) consider additional opportunities to address the research–practice gap. Level 1 addresses Treatment Validation studies and includes an article by Lochman and colleagues concerning the programmatic adaptation, implementation, and dissemination of the empirically supported Coping Power treatment program for youth aggression. Level 2 translation, Training in Evidence-Based Practice, includes a paper by Hershenberg, Drabick, and Vivian, which focuses on the critical role that predoctoral training plays in bridging the research–practice gap. Level 3 addresses the Assessment of Clinical Utility and Feedback to Research aspects of translation. The articles by Lambert and Youn, Kraus, and Castonguay illustrate the use of commercial outcome packages that enable psychotherapists to integrate ongoing client assessment, thus enhancing the effectiveness of treatment implementation and providing data that can be fed back to researchers. Lastly, Level 4 translation, the Cross-Level Integrative Research and Communication, concerns research efforts that integrate data from clinical practice and all other levels of translation, as well as communication efforts among all stakeholders, such as researchers, psychotherapists, and clients. Using a two-chair technique as a framework for his discussion, Wolfe's article depicts the struggle inherent in research–practice integration efforts and proposes a rapprochement that highlights advancements in the field.

Therapist alliance activity, therapist comfort, and systemic alliance on individual psychotherapy outcome.

“…Additional research is needed to understand if and how compensation or competition patterns occur in the systemic alliance as related to client outcome. Overall, study findings may contribute to fulfilling the posited needs that, “research on therapist-client interaction helps to identify processes and in-session treatment factors that lead to therapeutic change” (Vivian et al, 2012, p. 146).…”

Using electronic communication to bridge the research to practice gap among mentoring professionals

“…Therefore, it is important to move past identifying the problem and develop effective methods to help close the gap (Ozdemir & Giannotta, 2014). It is clear that the solution is complicated and encompasses many different variables including diverse goals, Concerning the area of psychotherapy research-to-practice issues, Vivian et al, (2012) proposed a four level model to integrate practice and research. This model included research on the specific practices and techniques, used integrated research into training of new clinicians and researchers, utilization of the information from clinicians to research and finally integration of the two.…”

Measuring Fidelity in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT): A Pilot Test of the EFT Therapist Fidelity Scale

“…Despite its importance, there is a surprising lack of fidelity research for couples therapy. This lack of research hampers the translation of laboratory therapy to the front lines (community settings) of clinical practice (Vivian et al, 2012). Without fidelity studies, it is impossible to know how and if evidence based practices work with licensed, full time clinicians.…”