Training of Graduate Students in General Psychotherapeutic Skills (TRIPS)

Summary

In this study, a deliberate practice-based approach to therapist training will be compared to theoretical teaching. The main hypothesis is that deliberate practice training will result in a larger improvement in students' observer-rated interpersonal skills. About 200 graduate students from two Danish universities will be randomized into two groups, a) deliberate practice training of non-specific psychotherapeutic skills using role-play and Theravue, an online skill-building system with therapy videos; or b) theoretical teaching. Each condition consists of 15 hours of classroom participation and homework. The study has the potential to transform the training of psychotherapy skills.

Conditions

• Deliberate Practice Training of Psychotherapeutic Skills
• Theoretical Teaching of Psychotherapeutic Skills

Interventions

OTHER

Deliberate practice training

The experimental condition consists of five weeks of deliberate practice training of non-specific psychotherapy skills organized as (1) classroom training and (2) homework. The classroom training consists of 15 hours (5 days x 3 hours) of deliberate practice training. Each day will be organized around a theme: (a) Empathy, (b) establishing the therapeutic alliance, (c) working with alliance ruptures, (d) formulation of an interpersonal focus, and (e) clinical expertise - a synthesis. The training will include theoretical introductions, students defining individual training goals, model responses of good psychotherapeutic skills, and student role-play. Regarding homework, after each of the five classes, the students will use Theravue to watch and respond to three therapy videos related to the theme of the previous class. The students have to deliver at least two new responses to each video informed by feedback from teachers and peers and a checklist describing a "good response."

OTHER

Theoretical teaching

The control condition will consist of five weeks of theoretical teaching of non-specific psychotherapy skills performed as (1) classroom teaching and (2) homework. Regarding classroom teaching, the 15 hours (5 days x 3 hours) of teaching will be organized around the same five themes as the experimental condition (see points a-d above). The class will consist of the teacher's presentation of theory and research findings, videos with master therapists defining core concepts, and group discussions of literature. Regarding homework, the participants will read literature and use a restricted version of Theravue to complete home assignments where they record their answers to three theoretical questions related to the theme of the preceding classroom teaching.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Copenhagen

  collaborator OTHER

• Aalborg University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ole K. Østergård, PhD · Department of Communication and Psychology, Aalborg University.

• Stig B. Poulsen, Professor · Department of psychology, University of Copenhagen

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-09-01

Primary Completion

2023-12-15

Completion

2025-09-01

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations