1. Efficacy of Facilitative Interpersonal and Relational Skills Training for Teletherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
- Author
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Lin, Tao, Anderson, Timothy, Antebi-Lerman, Eva, Bate, Jordan, and Aafjes-van Doorn, Katie
- Subjects
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TELEPSYCHOLOGY , *SOCIAL skills , *CAREER development , *TELEMEDICINE , *ADULT education workshops - Abstract
Objective: Therapists report a lack of confidence and competence in teletherapy compared to in-person therapy. Training focusing on teletherapy skills is scarce. This study reports on (a) the development of a training workshop for facilitative interpersonal skills (FIS) in teletherapy (tele-FIRST) and (b) a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of tele-FIRST. Tele-FIRST is a 2-hr online synchronous training workshop that incorporates didactics, deliberate practice, simulation of teletherapy challenges, modeling, and discussion. Method: A set of tele-FIS stimulus clips that depict four types of teletherapy challenges (e.g., emotional disconnection, distraction) was used to evaluate and train therapists' teletherapy skills. A total of 182 licensed therapists and trainees were randomized into either the tele-FIRST or a waitlist group. Of these, 153 participants completed baseline assessment and were included in the final analyses (tele-FIRST: n = 82; waitlist: n = 71). At baseline, posttraining, and follow-up, participants were assessed on their observer-rated FIS for teletherapy, self-reported FIS, teletherapy skills, acceptance of teletherapy, and self-efficacy. Results: Therapists demonstrated increased teletherapy skills following the tele-FIRST workshop. After controlling for baseline scores, the tele-FIRST group demonstrated significantly higher observer-rated tele-FIS (ηp2 =.134), self-reported FIS (ηp2 =.106), teletherapy skills (ηp2 =.037), acceptance of teletherapy technology (ηp2 =.082), and self-efficacy (ηp2 =.036) compared to the waitlist group at posttraining. Conclusion: The tele-FIRST demonstrated significant short-term effects on enhancing therapists' teletherapy skills as rated by both independent observers and therapists themselves. Tele-FIRST may improve the quality of teletherapy, though more research is needed to investigate its long-term effects. What is the public health significance of this article?: This study reports on the development of facilitative interpersonal skills in teletherapy (tele-FIRST), a novel teletherapy-specific, skill-based training that incorporates didactics, deliberate practice, video simulation of teletherapy challenges, modeling, and discussion. Our findings reveal that tele-FIRST, a 2-hr training, may significantly enhance observer-rated teletherapy skills in the short term and promote acceptance of teletherapy for therapists at various stages of career development. The tele-FIRST training may equip therapists to navigate the unique challenges of teletherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2025
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