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Beyond the Label: Relationship Between Community Therapists’ Self-Report of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Orientation and Observed Skills

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Abstract

Policy-makers, payers, and consumers often make decisions based on therapists’ reported theoretical orientations, but little is known about whether these labels represent actual or potential skills. Prior to CBT training, therapists (n = 321) reported theoretical orientations. Experts rated CBT competency using the Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale Therapy at pre-, mid-, and post-training. CBT- and non-CBT identified therapists showed equivalent, non-competent baseline CBT skills. CBT-identified therapists showed greater CBT skills at mid-training, but by end of training, groups evidenced equivalent achieved competency. Baseline CBT orientations were neither valid, nor useful markers of later competency. Policy, clinical and research implications are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbilities under a training grant for the Beck Initiative.

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Correspondence to Torrey A. Creed.

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Creed, T.A., Wolk, C.B., Feinberg, B. et al. Beyond the Label: Relationship Between Community Therapists’ Self-Report of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Orientation and Observed Skills. Adm Policy Ment Health 43, 36–43 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-014-0618-5

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