Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Training in Residency and Graduate Programs: A Multidisciplinary Survey

Training in evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) in clinical programs is crucial for increasing their use in practice. Twenty years ago, the National Psychotherapy Training Survey-I (NPTS-I) examined whether U.S. training programs required didactic training and clinical supervision in EBPs. Almost all psychiatry (96%) programs, but only 56% of clinical psychology Ph.D., 33% of clinical psychology Psy.D., and 38% of social work (i.e., M.S.W.) programs, required EBP training. After years of dissemination efforts, the authors reexamined EBP training levels across those disciplines as well as counseling psychology and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) programs by conducting the NPTS-II.

Half of accredited training programs in each discipline were randomly selected for an online survey of training requirements and electives, whether all trainees receive EBP training, and associated barriers and facilitators. Of 574 invited programs, 253 (44%) program directors completed responses: 48 psychiatry (37%), 44 clinical psychology Ph.D. (53%), 14 clinical psychology Psy.D. (36%), 34 counseling psychology (58%), 38 PMHNP (35%), and 75 M.S.W. (49%) programs.

At least 75% of programs across disciplines offered didactic and clinical supervision EBP training. Required training rates were higher in psychiatry (90%) and clinical psychology Ph.D. (81%) programs than in clinical psychology Psy.D. (59%), PMHNP (48%), counseling psychology (28%), and M.S.W. (27%) programs. A similar pattern emerged in estimations of all trainees receiving EBP training.

EBP training requirements held steady in psychiatry and increased in clinical psychology programs. Low EBP training rates persist in other disciplines, possibly contributing to the continuing gap between EBP research efficacy evidence and practice.