Double trouble: Therapists with low facilitative interpersonal skills and without training have low in-session...

Objectives: This study examined the combined effect of therapist Facilitative Interpersonal Skills (FIS) and Training Status on experiential processes within therapy sessions. In this randomized trial of FIS and Training Status, we predicted that in-session experiential processes would be highest for the high FIS and trained therapist group and lowest for the low FIS and untrained therapists. Methods: Forty-five clients were selected from 2,713 undergraduates using a screening and clinical interview procedure. Twenty-three therapists were selected for their level of FIS (high vs. low) and Training (trainee vs. untrained) and each were assigned two clients for seven sessions each. Two different coder teams independently rated experiencing and narrative process from the third therapy session and computer analysis identified affect words from transcripts. Results: FIS×Training Status significantly interacted on the set of experiential process measures. Relative to all others, therapists who were in the low FIS / no training group had lower experiencing and reflexive content, but higher external content. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of therapist characteristics within therapy sessions. Therapists without training and with low interpersonal skills have sessions that are nearly devoid of content that focuses on client experiential processes and emotion.