Beck Institute’s mission is to improve lives worldwide through excellence and innovation in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R). We fulfill this mission, in part, through providing excellent training to clinicians worldwide. Research shows that clinical supervision from an expert mentor results in an improvement in CBT skills (Frank, Becker-Haimes, & Kendall, 2020). During the process of supervision, trainees work one-on-one with a supervisor from our faculty, submitting recordings or transcripts of therapy sessions and receiving feedback via telephone or an online meeting platform. However, the cost and time commitment of individual supervision can present a barrier to receiving this crucial component of training. To make high-quality CBT training more accessible, Beck Institute has been developing a brand-new group supervision model.
CBT Program Director Dr. Allen Miller designed the group supervision model and accompanying preparation program after being approached by The Source, a mental wellness center in Egypt, that expressed interest in a group model of supervision. Group supervision in CBT has been investigated before and has so far proved to be just as effective as individual supervision, but there is still a need for empirical studies (Stirman et al., 2017). Beck Institute decided to do research to assess the effectiveness of the group supervision model. Dr. Miller implemented Beck Institute’s first Group Supervision Program with The Source, starting in 2019. Based on our pilot data, we concluded that the Group Supervision Program offered with the preparation program results in significant improvement in the CBT skills of clinicians.
How does the Group Supervision Program work?
Supervision allows supervisees to apply their CBT knowledge and hone their skills under the guidance of a CBT expert. Prior to starting the formal supervision process, supervisees individually complete the 4-week Group Supervision Preparation Program. Through videos, readings, and practice, this self-directed preparatory program teaches participants essential techniques and components of a CBT session and addresses how each corresponds to the Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale (CTRS).
Once the preparation program is complete, groups are matched with a supervisor who provides mentorship, feedback, and opportunities for reflection critical to improving CBT implementation. One faculty supervisor is paired with a group of four to six trainees, which allows for a more affordable rate per trainee. Group supervision terms include ten sessions over the course of approximately six months. Each week, two clinicians are required to submit one session recording each in English or provide a transcript translated into English. Sessions are held every three weeks and are conducted via the Zoom meeting platform. Each group member submits at least six recordings/transcripts over the course of their term. To successfully complete the program, at least three of the submissions must receive a score of 44 or above on the CTRS.
We are excited to offer this accessible and effective model of CBT training for clinicians. Stay tuned for more updates regarding the Group Supervision Program.
References:
Frank, H. E., Becker-Haimes, E. M., & Kendall, P. C. (2020). Therapist training in evidence-based interventions for mental health: A systematic review of training approaches and outcomes. Clinical psychology : a publication of the Division of Clinical Psychology of the American Psychological Association, 27(3), e12330. https://doi.org/10.1111/cpsp.12330.
Stirman, S. W., Pontoski, K., Creed, T., Xhezo, R., Evans, A. C., Beck, A. T., & Crits-Christoph, P. (2017). A Non-randomized Comparison of Strategies for Consultation in a Community-Academic Training Program to Implement an Evidence-Based Psychotherapy. Administration and policy in mental health, 44(1), 55–66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-015-0700-7.