Training family therapists: an experimental analysis

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Family Therapy Training
• Child Psychology

Background:

• Effective family therapy requires specific therapist skills.
• Training parents in behavioral techniques is crucial for child compliance.
• Existing training methods may lack comprehensive skill-building components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a multifaceted training program for family therapists.
• To assess the impact of therapist training on therapist behavior (instructing, informing, praising).
• To examine the effects of therapist training on parent and child behavioral outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A training program incorporating manuals, video models, rehearsal, role-playing, and feedback was used.
• The study employed a multiple-baseline design across therapist/parent/child triads.
• Therapists were trained to teach parents behavioral skills like praising, planned ignoring, and time-out.

Main Results:

• Therapists significantly increased instructing, praising, and informing behaviors.
• Parents demonstrated increased attention to compliance, decreased attention to noncompliance, and more praise.
• Children exhibited increased compliance and decreased noncompliance.

Conclusions:

• The implemented training program successfully enhanced therapist skills.
• The training program led to positive behavioral changes in both parents and children.
• This approach offers a viable method for improving family therapy effectiveness and child behavior.