title: Effects of Functional Analytic Psychotherapy Therapist Training on Therapist Factors Among Therapist Trainees in Singapore: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) is a behavioral psychotherapy intervention that emphasizes the development of an intimate and intense therapeutic relationship as the vehicle of therapeutic change. Recently, research has provided preliminary support for a FAP therapist training (FAPTT) protocol in enhancing FAP competency. The present study aimed to expand on this research by examining the effects of FAPTT on FAP-specific skills and competencies and a set of broadly desirable therapist qualities (labelled awareness, courage and love in FAPTT) in a sample of therapist trainees in Singapore. The study also evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of FAP in the Singaporean context. Twenty-five students enrolled in a master's in clinical psychology program were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either eight weekly sessions of a FAPTT course or to a waitlist condition. All participants completed measures assessing empathy, compassionate love, trait mindfulness, authenticity and FAP-specific skills and competencies pre- and post-training, and at 2-month follow-up. A post-course evaluation was administered to obtain participants' qualitative feedback. Results indicated that compared with the waitlisted group, FAPTT participants reported significant increases in overall empathy, FAP skill and treatment acceptability from pre- to post-training. Improvements were observed on several outcome variables at 2-month follow-up. Participants reported finding the training to be both feasible and acceptable, although several raised issues related to the compatibility of the treatment with the local cultural context. Overall, the findings suggest that FAPTT is effective for improving specific FAP competencies and selected broadly desirable therapist qualities among therapist trainees. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functional Analytic Therapy (FAP) therapist training protocol was effective in improving empathy and FAP skills among Singaporean therapist trainees. These improvements were maintained at 2-month follow-up. The training was found to be acceptable in the Singaporean context, although several adaptations were suggested to increase the compatibility between FAP principles and local cultural norms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Shian-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Keng
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waddington
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Xiangting Bernice
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Michelle Su Qing
authors.initials: MSQ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henn-Haase
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kanter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D064866:Mindfulness; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy / Q000193:education*; D012846:Singapore; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Culture; Functional Analytic Psychotherapy; Randomized Controlled Trial; Therapist Training