Disseminating Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a Systematic Self-care Approach to Addressing Secondary Traumatic Stress: PRACTICE What You Preach

Abstract

This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) training programs augmented with a systematic “PRACTICE What You Preach” (PWYP) self-care focus, which has trainees personally utilize the coping skills they teach their clients. Participants were 115 clinicians/supervisors who completed a PWYP TF-CBT training program. Pre- to post-training analyses documented significant increases in participants’ competency and fidelity in implementing TF-CBT (ps < .001), significantly more frequent use of coping skills including instrumental social support (p < .01), active coping (p < .001), humor (p < .01), and restraint (p < .01), and significant decreases in secondary traumatic stress (STS; p < .001). Children’s symptoms of PTSD (ps < .001) and behavior problems (p < .05) also decreased significantly. This preliminary evidence suggests that training augmented with PWYP may enhance clinicians’/supervisors’ personal coping and reduce their levels of STS without compromising treatment implementation efforts and client outcomes.

Successes, challenges, and opportunities in providing evidence-based teletherapy to children who have experienced trauma as a response to Covid-19: A national survey of clinicians

“…Lastly, we assessed the clinicians’ experience of stress as well as their challenges in implementing self-care during the pandemic. Research has established that the stress level and coping resources of clinicians can significantly impact the quality of services provided by them to their traumatized clients ( Deblinger et al, 2020 ).…”

Professional wellbeing and turnover intention among child therapists: a comparison between therapists trained and untrained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

“…Such interventions should be based on empirical findings relevant to professional wellbeing in CAMHS. For example, a recent study [ 85 ] found potential benefits from combining a self-care approach, referred to as “PRACTICE What You Preach” into TF-CBT training for reducing level of secondary traumatic stress. Although therapist directed interventions like this or mindfulness training can help, previous studies have shown that organizational interventions are more alterable and are more efficient in reducing burnout and increase personal efficacy [ 6 ].…”

Kompetenzerleben von Psychotherapeut_innen im Umgang mit Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Gewalterfahrungen und Traumafolgestörungen

“…Erste Untersuchungen zeigen, dass sich durch ein Tf-KVT Training das Selbstwirksamkeitserleben von Thera-peut_innen in ihrem Einbezug von Bezugspersonen verbessern lässt (Woody, Anderson & D'Souza, 2015). Die Kombination einer Tf-KVT Fortbildung mit einem Selbstfürsorge-Ansatz führte zu einem größeren traumatherapeutischen Kompetenzerleben und einer geringeren Belastung (Deblinger, Pollio, Cooper & Steer, 2020…”