Evaluating the impact of a two-day family therapy training for adolescents on course mastery, trainee attitude, self-efficacy and therapeutic competence in China.

BACKGROUND

Family therapy (FT) is an evidence-based intervention for adolescent mental health issues, yet brief, empirically evaluated FT training programs are scarce in China. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a two-day intensive FT training program on trainees (i.e., psychotherapists with fewer than five exposures to formal psychotherapy training) in terms of their course mastery, attitudes toward psychotherapy, therapeutic self-efficacy and clinical competence, and to explore whether the participants’ attitudes and self-efficacy toward FT are associated with their demographic and professional characteristics.

METHODS

A total of 127 trainees participated in the training, which included lectures on the application of family therapy in adolescents, real-case demonstrations, practical exercises, and supervision. 93(73.2%) participants completed an evaluation questionnaire measuring their mastery level of the training content, attitudes toward different psychotherapies, therapeutic competence and self-efficacy at the end of the program. Participants were informed of the purpose of the study, their right to withdraw at any time, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their participation in the training. Human ethics approval and consent to participate were applicable and adhered to throughout the study.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed statistically significant improvements across all six content areas (all p < 0.01). Regarding attitudes toward cognitive-behavioral therapy, there were significant differences among trainees based on gender, prior experience with psychotherapy, and educational level. Also, as the participants’ age increased, their attitudes toward family therapy became more positive. Trainees with prior experience in psychotherapy exhibited significantly higher therapeutic competence and self-efficacy in family therapy compared to those without such experience.

CONCLUSION

The results proved the positive effectiveness of the training. Notably, participants with prior relevant experience in psychotherapy scored significantly higher on therapeutic competence and self-efficacy, highlighting the critical role of practical experience in mastering therapeutic skills.