Deliberate Practice for Therapist Training

Let's talk about deliberate practice and how we can become a better therapist.
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We haven't improved the results we get (in the field of psychotherapy) over the last 50 years. I believe that is because we have poured our research money into trying to improve our therapies (the types of interventions we use), rather than learning how to improve our therapists. In other words, we haven't stopped to wonder how to best train our therapists so that they improve over time (which research shows we therapists currently do not). This has led to some truly wonderful forms of therapy, but a lack of wonderful therapists who are able to fully put them to use.
This is why there has been a push to incorporate deliberate practice into the training of therapists. After all, deliberate practice is the most powerful, best researched path toward mastery when it comes to any domain. Most other fields, from sports to music, incorporate deliberate practice into their training, and many believe it is time for therapists to do so as well. What would this shift look like? It would mean a move away from using lectures, books, and theoretical ideas as the foundation of learning, towards hands-on practice. You might be thinking, 'yes, we do have therapists practice, when they are supervised seeing clients!' But seeing client's isn't practice. It's performance. Practice requires focusing on one skill at a time. Deliberate practice is highly focused, repetitive, aimed at just the right level of skill. If we want to see therapists actually improve, we need to clarify both the interpersonal and intrapersonal (ie self-awareness, etc.) skills they need to develop, and offer them chances to practice, get clear feedback, and monitor their gains over time.
For information about my "Minding the Heart" training groups or to sign up for my video courses and earn mental health education CEUs, check out: toriolds.com
For free deliberate practice training materials, click here: sentio.org/innovation
For access to the deliberate practice course I made, focused on what I believe are core therapist skills, click here: therapywisdom.com/becoming-a-...
The information provided by Dr. Tori Olds is solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Tori Olds is a licensed psychologist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.