Common pitfalls of beginning therapists utilizing enactments

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Family Therapy
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Enactments are a core mechanism for change in relationship therapies, supported by empirical data and theory.
• Beginning therapists may lack adequate training and conceptual frameworks for effective enactment utilization.
• Ineffective enactment execution can lead to poor outcomes and therapist avoidance of this technique.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify proficiencies and nonproficiencies of beginning therapists in conducting enactments.
• To assess the clinical operations involved in executing enactments.
• To inform training improvements in marriage and family therapy programs.

Main Methods:

• Twenty beginning therapists from COAMFTE-accredited programs received brief training in an indirect therapy style incorporating enactments.
• Twenty-six therapist enactments were coded using a comprehensive observational measure.
• The measure assessed proficiencies and nonproficiencies in enactment phases, tasks, and subcomponent operations.

Main Results:

• Beginning therapists demonstrated significant struggles with numerous clinical operations crucial for successful relationship therapy.
• Specific difficulties were observed in executing various phases and tasks within enactments.
• Nonproficiencies were identified across multiple levels of enactment execution.

Conclusions:

• Beginning therapists require more comprehensive training in conducting enactments.
• Recommendations are provided for enhancing enactment training within COAMFTE-accredited programs.
• Improved training can enhance therapist proficiency and the effectiveness of relationship therapies.