Online CBT training for mental health providers in primary care
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-08-2017-0049 |
| Date | 09 July 2018 |
| Published date | 09 July 2018 |
| Pages | 228-237 |
| Author | Kristen Sorocco,Joseph Mignogna,Michael R. Kauth,Natalie Hundt,Melinda A. Stanley,Elyse Thakur,Chelsea G. Ratcliff,Jeffrey A. Cully |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Mental health education |
Online CBT training for mental health
providers in primary care
Kristen Sorocco, Joseph Mignogna, Michael R. Kauth, Natalie Hundt, Melinda A. Stanley,
Elyse Thakur, Chelsea G. Ratcliff and Jeffrey A. Cully
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of study was to assess the impact of an online training program for a brief cognitive-
behavioral therapy (CBT) that integrated physical health management designed for use by mental health
providers in the primary care setting.
Design/methodology/approach –In total, 19 providers from two Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
medical centers completed online training as part of a larger trial. Statistical analyses compared provider
self-reported CBT knowledge and abilities at pretraining, posttraining, and long-term follow-up. Additionally,
data were collected on providers’experiences of the training.
Findings –Providers’baseline to post-training scores improved on general CBT knowledge and ability, as
well as across 11 CBT principles and techniques. Post-training scores were maintained over time.
Research limitations/implications –A small sample size, sole focus on VHA data, and reliance on
self-report measures are limitations of the study.
Practical implications –Qualitative data suggested training was feasible, acceptable, and potentially
scalable; however, a one-size-fits-all approach may not be ideal.
Originality/value –Online training has potential for providing wider access to providers with limited access
to traditional face-to-face training.
Keywords Mental health, Psychotherapy, Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Online training
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
In response to significant demands for improved access to mental health services,
evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) are rapidly expanding from traditional inpatient and
outpatient settin gs into the broader he althcare system , including primary care and medical
specialty clinic s (Nash et al., 2012). The Veterans Health Administration (2008) has
been instrumenta l in this effort, with th e introduction of the primar y care –mental health
integration prog ram and through the dev elopment of national tr aining and evidenc e-based
dissemination programs (Karlin et al., 2010). Yet, despite the resources devoted to these
efforts, adoptio n and dissemination o f EBPs have been challe nging; as frontline pr oviders in
nontraditional m ental health settin gs continue to struggl e to receive training a nd implement
EBPs into routine clin ical practice ( Beehler and Wray, 2012 ; Funderburk et al., 2010).
Traditional methods of psychotherapy training (i.e. workshops and self-directed manuals)
increase providers’self-rated knowledge and skills, particularly when delivered as part of
multimodal training programs (Herschell et al., 2010). These programs often incorporate a
treatment manual, multiple days of intensive workshop training, expert consultation, live or
audiotape review of client sessions, supervisor training, booster training sessions, and
completion of training cases (Herschell et al., 2010). Although such training experiences are
effective, they may be cost prohibitive or not feasible for on-the-job training in routine clinical
practice. Further, these methods are often time consuming and difficult for community-based
providers to access, given their limited connection to academic institutions (Barnett, 2011;
Bennet-Levy and Perry, 2009).
Received 1 August 2017
Revised 8 December 2017
Accepted 19 March 2018
The authors’affiliations can be
found at the end of this article.
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THE JOURNAL OF MENTALHEALTH TRAINING, EDUCATION AND PRACTICE
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VOL. 13 NO. 4 2018, pp.228-237, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1755-6228 DOI 10.1108/JMHTEP-08-2017-0049
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