title: Is training effective? A study of counseling psychology doctoral trainees in a psychodynamic/interpersonal training clinic.
abstract: We investigated changes over 12 to 42 months in 23 predoctoral trainees during their externship training in a psychodynamic/interpersonal psychotherapy clinic. Over time, trainees increased in client-rated working alliance and real relationship, therapist-rated working alliance, client-rated interpersonal functioning, ability to use helping skills (e.g., challenges, immediacy), higher-order functioning (e.g., conceptualization ability, countertransference management), feelings about themselves as therapists (e.g., more authentic, more self-aware), and understanding about being a therapist (e.g., theoretical orientation, curiosity about client dynamics). In contrast, trainees did not change in engaging clients (return after intake or for at least 8 sessions), judge-rated psychodynamic techniques in third and ninth sessions across clients (although trainees used more cognitive-behavioral techniques over time in third but not ninth sessions), or changes in client-rated symptomatology. Trainees primarily attributed changes to graduate training, individual and group supervision, research participation, and working with clients. Implications for training and research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Clara E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Naama
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shafran
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Shudarshana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: College of Education, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Andrés E Pérez
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Patricia T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Spangler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Shauna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pappa
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gelso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D064889:Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D013336:Students, Health Occupations