Therapists' Perceived Competence in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client Outcomes: Findings From a Community-Based Learning Collaborative

Child Maltreat. 2022 Aug;27(3):455-465. doi: 10.1177/10775595211003673. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Abstract

This study examined therapists' perceived competence in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and its association with youth treatment outcomes (posttraumatic stress and depression). Participants included 99 community therapists enrolled in a TF-CBT-focused Learning Collaborative (LC), along with one of their randomly selected TF-CBT training cases. Analyzed data included: 1) caregiver/youth-reported posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms, pre- and post-treatment, and 2) therapist-perceived competence with TF-CBT components across treatment delivery. Youth- and caregiver-reports indicated large, significant pre- to post-treatment decreases in youth posttraumatic stress (ds = 1.10-1.30, ps < .001) and depressive symptoms (d = 1.01, p < .001). Higher therapist-perceived competence with TF-CBT predicted positive treatment responses for posttraumatic stress (ds = 0.38-0.39, ps = .03) and depression (d = 0.25), though only the former association was significant (ps = .03 vs. p = .15). Findings highlight the need to monitor and improve therapists' competencies to enhance clinical outcomes for trauma-exposed youth and suggest that LCs may be an effective training/implementation model to help achieve those critical goals.

Keywords: TF-CBT; community-based learning collaboratives; competence; implementation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Caregivers
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy*
  • Humans
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / psychology
  • Treatment Outcome