Helpline
Call 1.855.378.4373 to schedule a call time with a specialist or visit scheduler.drugfree.org
Helpline
Helpline
Call 1.855.378.4373 to schedule a call time with a specialist
    Journal Article

    Pilot Trial of Online Measurement Training and Feedback in Family Therapy for Adolescent Behavior Problems

    Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology

    Published: April 2022

    Abstract

    Objective: Pragmatic procedures for sustaining high-fidelity delivery of evidence-based interventions are needed to support implementation in usual care. This study tested an online therapist training system, featuring observational coder training and self-report fidelity feedback, to promote self-report acumen and routine use of family therapy (FT) techniques for adolescent behavior problems.

    Method: Therapists (N = 84) from nine substance use and mental health treatment sites reported on 185 adolescent clients. Therapists submitted baseline data on FT technique use with clients, completed a workshop introducing the 32-week training system, and were randomly assigned by site to Core Training versus Core Training + Consultation. Core Training included a therapist coder training course (didactic instruction and mock session coding exercises in 13 FT techniques) and fidelity feedback procedures depicting therapist-report data on FT use. Consultation convened therapists and supervisors for one-hour monthly sessions with an external FT expert. During the 32 weeks of training, therapists submitted self-report data on FT use along with companion session audiotapes subsequently coded by observational raters.

    Results: Therapist self-report reliability and accuracy both increased substantially during training. Observers reported no increase over time in FT use; therapists self-reported a decrease in FT use, likely an artifact of their improved self-report accuracy. Consultation did not enhance therapist self report acumen or increase FT use.

    Conclusions: Online training methods that improve therapist-report reliability and accuracy for
    FT use may confer important advantages for treatment planning and fidelity monitoring. More
    intensive and/or different training interventions appear needed to increase routine FT
    delivery.

    Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. 2022 April doi: 10.1080/15374416.2022.2051529