Lost in Transition: Examining Transitions in Psychotherapy Training

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Medical Education
• Psychotherapy Training

Background:

• Psychiatry residency training involves inevitable disruptions.
• These disruptions can negatively impact resident learning and patient care.
• Transitions in psychotherapy training are a common source of disruption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the nature and impact of transitional events during psychotherapy training in psychiatry residency.
• To identify common challenges faced by residents and supervisors during these transitions.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory study surveyed psychiatry residents (PGY2-5) and psychotherapy supervisors.
• Participants (30% residents, 18.6% supervisors) reported on transitional events and their perceived frequency and impact.

Main Results:

• Residents and supervisors reported similar rankings for the frequency and impact of transitional events.
• Both groups identified "residents feeling confused or overwhelmed by balancing differing models" as the most frequent issue.
• "Feed forward" items during supervisor transitions were also similarly ranked.

Conclusions:

• Transitions during psychotherapy training present significant challenges in psychiatry residency.
• Strategies are needed to manage these periods effectively.
• Addressing these transitions can enhance resident learning and ensure better continuity of patient care.