Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Clinicians’ Perspectives on Cognitive Therapy in Community Mental Health Settings: Implications for Training and Implementation

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Policymakers are investing significant resources in large-scale training and implementation programs for evidence-based psychological treatments (EBPTs) in public mental health systems. However, relatively little research has been conducted to understand factors that may influence the success of efforts to implement EBPTs for adult consumers of mental health services. In a formative investigation during the development of a program to implement cognitive therapy (CT) in a community mental health system, we surveyed and interviewed clinicians and clinical administrators to identify potential influences on CT implementation within their agencies. Four primary themes were identified. Two related to attitudes towards CT: (1) ability to address client needs and issues that are perceived as most central to their presenting problems, and (2) reluctance to fully implement CT. Two themes were relevant to context: (1) agency-level barriers, specifically workload and productivity concerns and reactions to change, and (2) agency-level facilitators, specifically, treatment planning requirements and openness to training. These findings provide information that can be used to develop strategies to facilitate the implementation of CT interventions for clients being treated in public-sector settings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aarons, G. A. (2004). Mental health provider attitudes toward adoption of evidence-based practice: The evidence-based practice attitude scale (EBPAS). Mental Health Services Research, 6(2), 61–74. doi:10.1023/B:MHSR.0000024351.12294.65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aarons, G. A. (2006). Transformational and transactional leadership: Association with attitudes toward evidence-based practice. Psychiatric Services, 57(8), 1162–1169. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.57.8.1162.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aarons, G., Cafri, G., Lugo, L., & Sawitzky, A. (2010). Expanding the domains of attitudes towards evidence-based practice: The Evidence based practice attitude scale-50. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research. doi: 10.1007/s10488-010-0302-3

  • Aarons, G., Hurlburt, M., & Horwitz, S. (2011). Advancing a conceptual model of evidence-based practice implementation in public service sectors. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 38(1), 4–23. doi:10.1007/s10488-010-0327-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aarons, G. A., & Palinkas, L. A. (2007). Implementation of evidence-based practice in child welfare: Service provider perspectives. Administration and Policy in Mental Health Services Research, 34, 411–419. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.62.3.255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aarons, G. A., & Sawitzky, A. (2006). Organizational climate partially mediates the effect of culture on work attitudes and staff turnover in mental health services. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 33(3), 289–301. doi:10.1007/s10488-006-0039-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aarons, G. A., Sommerfeld, D. H., Hecht, D. B., Silovsky, J. F., & Chaffin, M. J. (2009). The impact of evidence-based practice implementation and fidelity monitoring on staff turnover: Evidence for a protective effect. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77(2), 270–280. doi:10.1037/a0013223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A. T. (2005). The current state of cognitive therapy: A 40-year retrospective. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(9), 953–959. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.62.9.953.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, K. D., & Stirman, S. W. (2011). The science of training in evidence-based treatments in the context of implementation programs: Current status and prospects for the future. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 38, 317–322. doi:10.1007/s10488-011-0361-0.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beidas, R. S., & Kendall, P. C. (2010). Training therapists in evidence-based practice: A critical review of studies from a systems-contextual perspective. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 17(1), 1. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2850.2009.01187.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borntrager, C., Chorpita, B. F., MacMillan-Higa, C., & Weisz, J. (2009). Provider attitudes towards evidence based practices: Are the concerns with the evidence or the manuals? Psychiatric Services, 60, 677–681. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.60.5.677.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butler, A. C., Chapman, J. E., Forman, E. M., & Beck, A. T. (2006). The empirical status of cognitive-behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(1), 17–31. doi:10.16/jcpr2005.07.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1968). Weighted kappa: Nominal scale agreement provision for scaled disagreement or partial credit. Psychological Bulletin, 70(4), 213–220. doi:10.1037/h0026256.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, J. M., Biyanova, T., & Coyne, J. C. (2009). Barriers to adoption of new treatments: An internet study of practicing community psychotherapists. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 36(2), 83–90. doi:10.1007/s10488-008-0198-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Kwartarini, W. Y., & Pramana, W. (1992). Staff perception of barriers to behavior therapy at a psychiatric hospital. Behavior Modification, 16(1), 132–144. doi:10.1177/01454455920161007.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., McCracken, S. G., Kommana, S., Edwards, M., & Simpatico, T. (1996). Staff perceptions about barriers to innovative behavioral rehabilitation programs. Cognitive therapy and research, 20(5), 541–551. doi:10.1177/01454455980224006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Williams, O. B., McCracken, S. G., Kommana, S., Edwards, M., & Brunner, J. (1998). Staff attitudes that impede the implementation of behavioral treatment programs. Behavior Modification, 22(4), 548–562. doi:10.1177/01454455980224006.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corry, R., & Jewell, T. C. (2002). Implementation of psychiatric rehabilitation strategies in real-life treatment settings for adults with severe mental illness. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Skills, 6(3), 335–354. doi:10.1080/10973430208408442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa, A., Roe, R., & Taillieu, T. (2001). Trust within teams: the relation with performance effectiveness. European journal of work and organizational psychology, 10, 225–244. doi:10.1080/13594320143000654.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crits-Christoph, P., Siqueland, L., Chittams, J., Barber, J. P., Beck, A. T., Frank, A., et al. (1998). Training in cognitive, supportive-expressive, and drug counseling therapies for cocaine dependence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66(3), 484–492. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.66.3.484.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, K., Norrie, J., Tyrer, P., Gumley, A., Tata, P., Murray, H., et al. (2006). The effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: results from the borderline personality disorder study of cognitive therapy (BOSCOT) trial. Journal of Personality Disorders, 20(5), 450–465. doi:10.1521/pedi.2006.20.5.450.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DeRubeis, R. J., Hollon, S. D., Amsterdam, J. D., Shelton, R. C., Young, P. R., Salomon, R. M., & Gallop, R. (2005). Cognitive therapy vs medications in the treatment of moderate to severe depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(4), 409. Retrieved at http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/62/4/417.

  • Ehlers, A., Clark, D. M., Hackmann, A., McManus, F., Fennell, M., Herbert, C., & Mayou, R. (2003). A randomized controlled trial of cognitive therapy, a self-help booklet, and repeated assessments as early interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(10), 1024. Retrieved at http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/60/10/1024.

  • Gittelsohn, J., Steckler, A., Johnson, C. C., Pratt, C., Grieser, M., Pickrel, J., et al. (2006). Formative research in school and community-based health programs and studies: “State of the art” and the TAAG approach. Health Education & Behavior, 33(1), 25–39. doi:10.1177/1090198105282412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago, IL: Aldine Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glisson, C., Schoenwald, S. K., Hemmelgarn, A., Green, P., Dukes, D., Armstrong, K. S., et al. (2010). Randomized trial of MST and ARC in a two-level evidence-based treatment implementation strategy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(4), 537. doi:10.1037/a0019160.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glisson, C., Schoenwald, S. K., Kelleher, K., Landsverk, J., Hoagwood, K. E., Mayberg, S., et al. (2008). Therapist turnover and new program sustainability in mental health clinics as a function of organizational culture, climate, and service structure. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 35(1–2), 124. doi:10.1007/s10488-007-0152-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, P. M., Huh, G. A., Perivoliotis, D., Stolar, N., & Beck, A. T. (2011). A randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive therapy for low functioning patients with schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry, 69(2), 121–127. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.129.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, M., Elhai, J. D., & Schmidt, L. O. (2007). Trauma professionals’ attitudes towards and utilization of evidence-based practice. Behavior Modification, 31, 732–748. doi:10.1177/0145445507302877.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Helfrich, C. D., Damschroder, L. J., Hagedorn, H. J., Daggett, G. S., Sahay, A., Ritchie, M., et al. (2010). A critical synthesis of literature on the promoting action on research implementation in health services (PARIHS) framework. Implementation Science, 5, 82. doi:10.1186/1748-5908-5-82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hemmelgarn, A. L., Glisson, C., & James, L. R. (2006). Organizational culture and climate: Implications for services and interventions research. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 13(1), 73–89. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2850.2006.00008.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henggeler, S. W. (2004). Decreasing effect sizes for effectiveness studies: Implications for the transport of evidence-based treatments: Comments on Curtis, Ronan, and Borduin. Journal of Family Psychology, 18, 420–423. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.18.3.420.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herschell, A. D., Kolko, D. J., Baumann, B. L., & Davis, A. C. (2010). The role of therapist training in the implementation of psychosocial treatments: A review and critique with recommendations. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(4), 448–466. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.02.005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • James, I. A., Blackburn, I. M., Milne, D. L., & Reichfelt, F. K. (2001). Moderators of trainee therapists’ competence in cognitive therapy. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 40(2), 131–141. doi:10.1348/014466501163580.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen-Doss, A., Hawley, K. M., Lopez, M., & Osterberg, L. D. (2009). Using evidence-based treatments: The experiences of youth providers working under a mandate. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 40(4), 417. doi:10.1037/a0014690.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kauth, M. R., Sullivan, G., Blevins, D., Cully, J. A., Landes, R. D., Said, Q., et al. (2010). Employing external facilitation to implement cognitive behavioral therapy in VA clinics: a pilot study. Implementation Science, 5, 75. doi:10.1186/1748-5908-5-75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kilmer, B., Eibner, C., Ringel, J. S., & Pacula, R. L. (2011). Invisible wounds, visible savings? Using microsimulation to estimate the costs and savings associated with providing evidence-based treatment for PTSD and depression to veterans of operation enduring freedom and operation Iraqi freedom. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 3(2), 201. doi:10.1037/a0020592.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lam, D. H., Watkins, E. R., Hayward, P., Bright, J., Wright, K., Kerr, N., & Sham, P. (2003). A randomized controlled study of cognitive therapy for relapse prevention for bipolar affective disorder: outcome of the first year. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(2), 145. Retrieved from http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/60/2/145.

  • Landis, J. R., & Koch, G. G. (1977). The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics, 33(1), 159–174. doi:10.2307/2529310.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lehman, W. E., Greener, J. M., & Simpson, D. D. (2002). Assessing organizational readiness for change. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 22(4), 197–209. doi:10.1016/S0740-5472(02)00233-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levitt, J. T., Malta, L. S., Martin, A., Davis, L., & Cloitre, M. (2007). The flexible application of a manualized treatment for PTSD symptoms and functional impairment related to the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45(7), 1419–1433. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2007.01.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lundgren, L., Amodeo, M., Cohen, A., Chassler, D., & Horowitz, A. (2011). Modifications of evidence-based practices in community-based addiction treatment organizations: A qualitative research study addictive behaviors. Addictive Behaviors, 36(6), 630–635. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2011.01.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malik, N., Kingdon, D., Pelton, J., Mehta, R., & Turkington, D. (2009). Effectiveness of brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for schizophrenia delivered by mental health nurses: relapse and recovery at 24 months. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 70(2), 201–207. doi:10.4088/JCP.07m03990.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McHugh, R. K., & Barlow, D. H. (2010). The dissemination and implementation of evidence-based psychological treatments. A review of current efforts. American Psychology, 65(2), 73–84. doi:10.1037/a0018121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendel, P., Meredith, L. S., Schoenbaum, M., Sherbourne, C. D., & Wells, K. B. (2008). Interventions in organizational and community context: a framework for building evidence on dissemination and implementation in health services research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 35(1), 21–37. doi:10.1007/s10488-007-0144-9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, W. R., Yahne, C. E., Moyers, T. B., Martinez, J., & Pirritano, M. (2004). A randomized trial of methods to help clinicians learn motivational interviewing. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72(6), 1050–1062. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.72.6.1050.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palinkas, L., Aarons, G., Horwitz, S., Chamberlain, P., Hurlburt, M., & Landsverk, J. (2010). Mixed method designs in implementation research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 38(1), 44–53. doi:10.1007/s10488-010-0314-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palinkas, L. A., Schoenwald, S. K., Hoagwood, K., Landsverk, J., Chorpita, B. F., & Weisz, J. R. (2008). An ethnographic study of implementation of evidence-based treatments in child mental health: First steps. Psychiatric Services, 59(7), 738–746. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.59.7.738.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J.-Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879–903. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raghavan, R., Bright, C., & Shadoin, A. (2008). Toward a policy ecology of implementation of evidence-based practices in public mental health settings. Implementation Science, 3(1), 26. doi:10.1186/1748-5908-3-26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rakovshik, S. G., & McManus, F. (2010). Establishing evidence-based training in cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of current empirical findings and theoretical guidance. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(5), 496–516. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Resick, P. A., Galovski, T. E., Uhlmansiek, M. O. B., Scher, C. D., Clum, G. A., & Young-Xu, Y. (2008). A randomized clinical trial to dismantle components of cognitive processing therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in female victims of interpersonal violence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(2), 243. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.76.2.243.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Riggs, S., Stirman, S. W., & Beck, A. T. (2012). Training community mental health agencies in cognitive therapy for schizophrenia. The Behavior Therapist, 35, 34–39. Retrieved from http://www.abct.org/docs/PastIssue/35n2.pdf

  • Rycroft-Malone, J., Seers, K., Titchen, A., Harvey, G., Kitson, A., & McCormack, B. (2004). What counts as evidence in evidence-based practice? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 47(1), 81–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schoenwald, S. K., Chapman, J. E., Kelleher, K., Hoagwood, K. E., Landsverk, J., Stevens, J., et al. (2008). A survey of the infrastructure for children’s mental health services: Implications for the implementation of empirically supported treatments (ESTs). Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 35(1–2), 84–97. doi:10.1007/s10488-007-0147-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sensky, T., Turkington, D., Kingdon, D., Scott, J. L., Scott, J., Siddle, R., et al. (2000). A randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for persistent symptoms in schizophrenia resistant to medication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 57(2), 165–172. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.57.2.165.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sholomskas, D. E., Syracuse-Siewert, G., Rounsaville, B. J., Ball, S. A., Nuro, K. F., & Carroll, K. M. (2005). We don’t train in vain: A dissemination trial of three strategies of training clinicians in cognitive-behavioral therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(1), 106–115. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.73.1.106.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stetler, C. B., Damschroder, L. J., Helfrich, C. D., & Hagedorn, H. J. (2011). A Guide for applying a revised version of the PARIHS framework for implementation. Implementation Science, 6(1), 99–112. doi:10.1186/1748-5908-6-99.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stetler, C., Legro, M., Rycroft-Malone, J., Bowman, C., Curran, G., Guihan, M., et al. (2006a). Role of “external facilitation” in implementation of research findings: a qualitative evaluation of facilitation experiences in the Veterans Health Administration. Implementation Science, 1(1), 23–32. doi:10.1186/1748-5908-1-23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stetler, C. B., Legro, M. W., Wallace, C. M., Bowman, C., Guihan, M., Hagedorn, H., et al. (2006b). The role of formative evaluation in implementation research and the QUERI experience. Jounal of General Internal Medicine, 21, S1–8. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00355.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, R. E., Wiltsey Stirman, S., & Chambless, D. L. (in press). A qualitative investigation of practicing psychologists’ attitudes toward research-informed practice: Implications for dissemination strategies. Professional Psychology: Research & Practice.

  • Stirman, S. W., Bhar, S. S., Spokas, M., Brown, G. K., Creed, T. A., Perivoliotis, D., et al. (2010). Training and consultation in evidence-based psychosocial treatments in public mental health settings: The access model. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 41(1), 48–56. doi:10.1037/a0018099.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turkington, D., Dudley, R., Warman, D. M., & Beck, A. T. (2006). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for schizophrenia: A review. Focus, 4(2), 223–233. Retrieved from http://psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=50577

    Google Scholar 

  • Vos, T., Corry, J., Haby, M. M., Carter, R., & Andrews, G. (2005). Cost effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural therapy and drug interventions for major depression. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 39(8), 683–692. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1614.2005.01652.x.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The preparation of this article was funded in part by National Institute of Mental Health grants K99-MH080100, T32MH019836, P20 MH71905and R24MH070698, and the NIMH and VA-funded Implementation Research Institute through an award from the National Institute of Mental Health (R25 MH080916-01A2) and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research & Development Service, Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institutes of Health or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Disclosures

None for any author.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shannon Wiltsey Stirman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stirman, S.W., Gutiérrez-Colina, A., Toder, K. et al. Clinicians’ Perspectives on Cognitive Therapy in Community Mental Health Settings: Implications for Training and Implementation. Adm Policy Ment Health 40, 274–285 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-012-0418-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-012-0418-8

Keywords

Navigation