Training students to become responsive therapists: implications from a sequential mixed-methods study on situations...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Therapist Training

Background:

• Challenging clinical situations pose unique difficulties for therapists.
• Understanding therapist responsiveness is crucial for effective clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify implications for therapist responsiveness training based on challenging clinical situations.
• To explore therapist experiences in difficult clinical scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Sequential mixed-methods study involving online surveys and focus groups.
• Surveys assessed frequency and difficulty of clinical situations among psychologists and child/adolescent psychiatrists.
• Focus groups explored therapist-identified challenging situations.

Main Results:

• Perceptions of situation difficulty varied significantly by individual and context.
• Challenging situations were characterized by information deficits, perceived shortcomings, and emotional distress.
• Therapist self-awareness, contextual understanding, and collegial support were identified as key resources.

Conclusions:

• Training should enhance therapist self-awareness and conceptualization skills.
• Personalized training approaches are recommended.
• Developing tolerance for uncertainty and seeking support are vital for managing challenging situations.