[What do psychotherapists in training and patients think about psychotherapeutic competencies?]

Abstract

To promote the competence of psychotherapists in the long term, it is necessary to adapt the content of the training programs to the specific needs of those involved in therapy. The present study explores which therapeutic competence psychotherapy trainees and patients consider relevant. In addition, it examines the extent to which the understanding of competence aligns within therapist-patient pairs and the role this alignment plays in the therapeutic alliance.Psychotherapy trainees (N=58) and their patients (N=51) were asked two open-ended questions about important therapeutic competences and relevant aspects of a good therapeutic relationship. The answers were assigned to the competence categories of the contextual model by Anderson and Hill and the Facilitative Interpersonal Skills (FIS) by Anderson using a structuring content analysis. In addition, the relationship between the alignment in the answers of therapist-patient pairs and the therapeutic alliance (Working Alliance Inventory - Short Revised) was examined.While relational competence was mentioned most frequently, cultural competence was missing in all responses. Some of the aspects mentioned could not be assigned to any competence field of the contextual model. Regarding a good therapeutic relationship, warmth, acceptance and understanding and alliance bond capacity were particularly emphasized. The alignment in the answers of the therapist-patient pairs was high on average. However, alignment and the therapeutic alliance did not show any significant correlation.The perspectives of the respondents were represented to varying degrees by the theoretical models. The importance of therapists' and patients' competence understanding for therapy needs to be further investigated. The results of the present study are consistent with previous research that shows relationship skills to be a central aspect of psychotherapy. For areas of competence that were missing from the respondents' answers, awareness should be raised specifically within training and further education.