title: The effectiveness of an ACT informed intervention for managing stress and improving therapist qualities in clinical psychology trainees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical psychology trainees (CPTs) are vulnerable to high stress, which can adversely affect their personal and professional functioning. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a group acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) informed stress management intervention for CPTs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcome measures were work-related stress, distress, life satisfaction, counseling self-efficacy, self-compassion, and therapeutic alliance. A cohort-controlled design, where an experimental group (n = 28) was compared with a waitlist control group (n = 28), was utilized, with a 10-week follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group comparisons showed statistically significant intervention effects for the main outcome measures, which were maintained at follow-up. Mediational analyses showed that changes on most outcomes were mediated by ACT mindfulness and acceptance processes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings support the effectiveness of a group ACT program for CPTs regarding stress reduction and improving therapist qualities.
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stafford-Brown
authors.forename: Kenneth I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Pakenham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011586:Psychology, Clinical; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult