Qualitative accounts from deliberate practice training for empathic communication among psychotherapy trainees

Abstract

Background

Empathic communication is a key therapeutic skill in psychotherapy. However, questions regarding the most effective and suitable teaching methods to support development in this area remain. Preliminary evidence has supported deliberate practice (DP) as an emerging approach for enhancing therapeutic skills, such as empathic communication; however, little is understood about its acceptability from a trainee perspective.

Aims

Eleven fourth-year psychology undergraduate students were interviewed about their experience of receiving online group-based DP training for empathic communication.

Materials & Methods

Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse interview transcripts.

Results

Participants described observing improvements in their use of empathic communication, including attitudinal and behavioural changes and shifts in self-awareness. Participants also described valuing self-observation and the personalised, iterative nature of the DP model in supporting their learning. Nevertheless, DP was also experienced as challenging by some trainees, who reflected that it provoked initial feelings of uncertainty and anxiety.

Discussion

This study highlights that undergraduate students may benefit from group DP training that fosters psychological safety and seeks to mitigate potential challenges, can be customised to their individual skill level and is incorporated alongside other learning approaches.

Conclusion

Future research is encouraged to build on these findings by examining the impact of DP on objective measures of empathic communication.