Engaging Ukrainian TF-CBT therapists in a PRACTICE skills course to support their wellbeing.

Abstract

Background: Burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) are common among therapists working with trauma-exposed clients, which can negatively impact them professionally and personally. The shared trauma of war exposure may put therapists at greater risk. To help support their wellbeing, an eight-session course was offered to Ukrainian therapists following training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). This course involves therapists personally utilizing the PRACTICE skills taught to clients in TF-CBT for professional and personal benefit.Objective: The objective was to gather preliminary evidence on the potential impact of implementing the course with Ukrainian therapists providing TF-CBT during a period of war in Ukraine. Specifically, this study examined if course participation was associated with increased PRACTICE coping skills usage, decreased burnout and STS, increased feelings of TF-CBT competency/confidence, and increased empathy for clients' experiences when implementing the skills.Method: The eight-session virtual course included cultural adaptations to increase its compatibility with Ukrainian culture. Thirteen matched pre-post course surveys were analysed to provide preliminary data on the course's effect on PRACTICE coping skills usage, burnout, and STS. The course's impact on therapist coping/wellbeing, TF-CBT competency/confidence, and empathy for clients was also examined qualitatively.Results: PRACTICE coping skills were utilized significantly more frequently at post-course compared to pre-course (p = .010). Therapists also reported lower average scores for burnout and STS after course completion, though these changes were not statistically significant. Most participants (92.3%) reported professional benefits from course participation including increased competency/confidence and empathy for clients. All therapists (100%) reported personal benefits from course participation including increased use of coping skills.Conclusions: Results indicate that participants experienced professional and personal benefits from course completion. This study provides helpful preliminary evidence of a positive impact, however, given the small sample size, larger scale implementation is needed.