A training outline for conducting psychotherapy process ratings: An example using therapist technique

Abstract

Aims: This study addresses the effects of structured training on the development of coding skills used in psychotherapy process research. Method: Participants included graduate trainees enrolled in an APA approved Clinical PhD programme. A course outline for training is reviewed and examined in relation to ratings of therapist techniques used during psychotherapy sessions. Results: The effects of this structured training protocol for raters resulted in good to excellent levels of interrater reliability. Different groups of raters were compared along multiple factors such as level of graduate training, training received on a particular measure, and psychotherapy experience. Discussion: The implications of these findings for rater training in psychotherapy process research are discussed.

Keywords:

• rater training
• psychotherapy process
• therapist technique
• STPP
• CPPS

Notes

1. Please refer to Grove, Andreasen, McDonald-Scott, Keller, and Shapiro (1981) and Lahey, Downey, and Saal (1983) for information regarding base rates and calculating ICC's.