Therapists' responses to training in brief supportive psychotherapy.
There is little research addressing supportive psychotherapy training. This article describes training clinicians in a form of brief supportive psychotherapy (BSP) for a multisite depression study, and reports on a survey of therapist attitudes toward BSP. We hypothesized that while most therapists would report acclimating to BSP, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)-trained therapists would report greater frustration with BSP. Sixteen (89%) of 18 therapists completed a brief questionnaire. Therapists reported gaining comfort with supportive concepts and interventions. Therapists with cognitive behavior therapy orientations did not report significantly greater frustration with intervention restrictions. All practitioners indicated they were already using or were planning to use BSP outside the study, and that BSP training had altered their appreciation of psychotherapy. Most study therapists lacked prior supportive therapy training but reported adapting to BSP and appreciating its strengths and limitations.
Markowitz
John C
JC
New York State Psychiatric Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10032, USA. jcm42@columbia.edu
Manber
Rachel
R
Rosen
Phyllis
P
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000193:education*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011361:Professional Competence; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000193:education*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000928:Antidepressive Agents