Implementing a time-limited therapy program: Differential effects of training and experience.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship of treatment success to therapist experience, differential levels of training in time-limited therapy, and self-report attitudes and skill toward time-limited treatment. Twelve therapists treated 57 prescreened outpatients in time-limited treatment. Clients of experienced therapists demonstrated superior outcome ratings when compared to those of less experienced therapists. In addition, a relationship was found between increased levels of training in timelimited therapy and rates of attrition, recidivism, and clinically significant change. Implications for past interpretations of the literature as well as future directions for the practice and research of short-term therapies are discussed.The efficacy of planned short-term individual psychotherapy is becoming a well-established empirical fact (Johnson & Gelso, 1980;Koss & Butcher, 1986). While models of short-term therapy appear to be increasing in the literature (Burlingame The authors would like to dedicate this article to one of the intake officers, Carol Shigetomi, who died tragically shortly after the study commenced. This study would have been difficult to complete without Carol's patient attention to detail.

A training outline for conducting psychotherapy process ratings: An example using therapist technique

“…The present study extends the research on psychotherapy process scoring accuracy with trainees, and presents an outline to organise a training programme for psychotherapy process research. This study's training module is similar to Mercer and Loesch's () description of a formalised training approach, as well as consistent with methods of investigation on the effectiveness of training in psychotherapy (Binder, ; Burlingame, Fuhriman, Paul, & Ogles, ; Crits‐Christoph et al, ; Henry et al, ; Hill, ; Hill & Lambert, ; Hill & Lent, ; Hilsenroth et al, ; Hilsenroth, ; Multon, Kivlighan, & Gold, ).…”

“…In contrast, a formalised approach utilises ‘structured feedback methods…to gain agreement between raters and predetermined criteria’ (p. 80). This approach is similar to methods of investigation focusing on the effectiveness of training in psychotherapy (Binder, ; Burlingame, Fuhriman, Paul, & Ogles, ; Crits‐Christoph et al, ; Henry, Schacht, Strupp, Butler, & Binder, ; Henry, Strupp, Butler, Schacht, & Binder, ; Hill, ; Hill & Lambert, ; Hill & Lent, ; Hilsenroth et al, ; Multon, Kivlighan, & Gold, ).…”

“….to gain agreement between raters and predetermined criteria ' (p. 80). This approach is similar to methods of investigation focusing on the effectiveness of training in psychotherapy (Binder, 1999;Burlingame, Fuhriman, Paul, & Ogles, 1989;Crits-Christoph et al, 1998;Hill, 1991;Hill & Lambert, 2004;Hill & Lent, 2006;Hilsenroth et al, 2006;Multon, Kivlighan, & Gold, 1996).…”

Exploring the role of therapy process and outcome in interventions that target adolescent identity and intimacy

“…In the literature there are conflicting findings on therapy outcomes and the relationship to therapist experience level with some studies (e.g., Burlingame et al, 1989;Church, 1993;Gold & Dole, 1989) finding that experience does influence outcome and some studies (e.g., Clementel-Jones, Malan, & Trauer, 1990;Dunkle, 1996;Propst, Paris, & Rosberger, 1994) concluding that it does not influence outcome. In addition to including more therapists, perhaps as suggested by Elliot & Wexler (1994) future studies could be done that focus on therapists who regularly receive high ratings and their characteristics in order to shed more light on this debate.…”

Exploring therapy process and outcome in interventions that target at risk adolescents

“…In the literature there are conflicting findings on therapy outcomes and the relationship to therapist experience level with some studies (e.g., Burlingame et al, 1989;Church, 1993;Gold & Dole, 1989) finding that experience does influence outcome and some studies and others (e.g., Clementel-Jones, Malan, & Trauer, 1990;Dunkle, 1996;Propst, Paris, & Rosberger, 1994) concluding that it does not influence outcome. Contrary to the Bussell (2000) study this research evidenced the opposite results in ratings in the Anger Management group with respect to therapists' experience level even though the results did not approach significance i.e.…”