The Effectiveness of a Short Cognitive Behavioural Training Course on Awareness, Knowledge, and Transferability of Competencies in Clinical Practice

PURPOSE: In this study we investigated the effects of training on knowledge acquisition and core competencies in CBT. DESIGN AND METHODS: Forty three students attended 15 half day, weekly sessions and were tested with the Cognitive Therapy Awareness Scale (CTAS) at weeks 1 and 15 in a before and after study. The students case studies were assessed with competencies items 7-12 on the Cognitive Rating Scale – Revised (CTS-R). FINDINGS: Improvements in the CTAS were modest. Key competencies on the CTSR subscales at week 15 were also observed. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: CBT knowledge acquisition might improve patients’ outcomes through impact on competencies. Search terms Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy, Education, Training, competencies, case studies Introduction The interest in core competencies in psychotherapy has soared and the particular focus of cognitive and behavioural therapies has led to unprecedented interest in practice skills (Keegan, 2012). There is also a patient preference for cognitive behavioural therapies rather than pharmacotherapies, as the latter has known side effects such as weight gain (Gøtzsche, 2014). Cognitive behavioural therapies have been shown to work for a variety of emotional disorders, and a recent meta-analysis has confirmed the efficacy (Hofmann, Asnaani, Vonk, Sawyer, & Fang, 2012). Prior to this study, there has been studies exploring training effects in Cognitive and