Research on Deliberate Practice
Below is a select list of writings and published studies on the use of Deliberate Practice for psychotherapy, counseling, and related fields. This list includes studies authored by researchers affiliated and unaffiliated with Sentio University.
Jin, J., & Wang, D. (2024). Deliberate practice in spiritual and religious competencies for professional psychologists: An example of evidenced-based continuing education. Practice Innovations. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000264
Lagerberg, H. et al. (2024) Does Practice Make Perfect? The Effects of an Eight-Week Manualized Deliberate Practice Course With Peer Feedback on Patient-Rated Working Alliance in Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 2024, Vol. 6(3), Article e12353, https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.12353
Ogles, B. M., Schramel, A., Schramel, C., Monson, C., Chugg, C., & Hansen, K. L. (2024). Training beginning therapists to respond to basic ethical situations in therapy: deliberate practice vs case discussion. Ethics & Behavior, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2024.2407871
Clements-Hickman, A. L., & Harris, K. R. (2024). Deliberate practice for psychotherapy skills: Recommendations and implications based on the state of the science. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000592
Nurse, K., O’Shea, M., & Sheen, J. (2024). Qualitative accounts from deliberate practice training for empathic communication among psychotherapy trainees. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 00, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12761
Malins S, Boutry C, Moghaddam N., et al. Outcomes of psychological support skills training for cancer care staff: skill acquisition, work engagement, mental wellbeing and burnout. Psychooncology. 2023; 32(10): 1539-1547. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.6200
Boutry C, Rathbone J, Gibbons F, Brooks D, Moghaddam N, Mays C, Patel P, Malins S. Experiences of deliberate practice orientated psychological skills training for cancer care staff: Barriers and facilitators to learning and implementation in practice. J Health Psychol. 2024 Apr;29(5):467-480. doi: 10.1177/13591053231210133. Epub 2023 Nov 14. PMID: 37961944; PMCID: PMC11005300.
Title: Training students to become responsive therapists: implications from a sequential mixed-methods study on situations that therapists find challenging
Reference: Stige, S.H., Torrissen, M.H., Danielsen, Y.S. et al. Training students to become responsive therapists: implications from a sequential mixed-methods study on situations that therapists find challenging. BMC Med Educ 24, 261 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05236-1
Major finding: Six implications of the results from the three studies for training of responsiveness are discussed: (1) building self-awareness and conceptualization skills; (2) personalizing training; (3) transforming disturbing arousal into engagement; (4) being exposed to a broad range of clinical situations; (5) training on commonly encountered situations; and (6) building tolerance for uncertainty and capacity to seek support.
Title: ‘Don't just magically assume you're going to get better as a therapist as time goes on’: An exploration of the use of deliberate practice
Reference: Mahon, D. (2024). ‘Don't just magically assume you're going to get better as a therapist as time goes on’: An exploration of the use of deliberate practice. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, DOI: 10.1002/capr.12746
Major finding: Interviewed participants described using DP to develop a host of psychotherapy skills and processes, and found support structures such as supervision and peers as helpful in the DP process. However, DP was also described as challenging to practice and it can cause those engaging in it to feel vulnerable and distressed.
Title: A pilot study of a deliberate practice intervention for therapist trainees
Reference: Olsson, M., Gustafsson, M., Carlsson, J., Rousmaniere, T., Bergbom, S., & Norberg, J. (2024) A pilot study of a deliberate practice intervention for therapist trainees. Nordic Psychology, DOI: 10.1080/19012276.2024.2313532
Major finding: Results indicate that it seems possible to achieve positive results on intrapersonal skills from a relatively short period of training.
Title: The influence of deliberate practice on skill performance in therapeutic practice: A systematic review of early studies
Reference: Nurse, K., O’shea, M., Ling, M., Castle, N., & Sheen, J. (2024). The influence of deliberate practice on skill performance in therapeutic practice: A systematic review of early studies. Psychotherapy Research, 1-15. DOI: 10.1080/10503307.2024.2308159
Major finding: All RCTs found the DP group performed better than the control group. Risk of researcher bias may contribute to these findings, highlighting the need for more research.
Title: Psychotherapy students' experiences of supervisee-centred supervision based on deliberate practice, feedback-informed treatment and self-compassion
Reference: Axelsson, S., Kihlberg, S., Davis, P., & Nyström, M. B. (2023). Psychotherapy students' experiences of supervisee‐centred supervision based on deliberate practice, feedback‐informed treatment and self‐compassion. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12708
Major finding: The experience- and feedback-based approach was perceived as efficient, structured and goal oriented. This created high-focused activity and participation, a strong group dynamic and a good alliance with the supervisors, providing a good climate for learning and development. Focusing on performance and feedback was perceived as a potential obstacle that could create stress and anxiety.
Title: Multiple-Baseline Design Study of Deliberate Practice for Learning Psychotherapeutic Techniques
Reference: John Young, McCall Schruff, Carolyn Humphrey & Jeffrey M. Pavlacic (2023) Multiple-Baseline Design Study of Deliberate Practice for Learning Psychotherapeutic Techniques, Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, DOI: 10.1080/23794925.2023.2272949
Major finding: Results indicated that deliberate practice was associated with rapid, precipitous increases in reliably coded, structured evaluation of skill.
Title: Competence-based assessment and training for ethical situations in practice: a pilot study
Reference: Benjamin M. Ogles, Kristin Lang Hansen & David M. Erekson (2023) Competence-based assessment and training for ethical situations in practice: a pilot study, Ethics & Behavior, DOI: 10.1080/10508422.2023.2263896
Major finding: In this pilot study, deliberate practice and competence-based assessment were incorporated into a first-year graduate course on professional issues and ethics. Student self-report ratings and independent performance ratings blind to timing found improvements in students’ ability to manage basic ethical situations in practice. Pilot evidence suggests competence-based assessment and training have potential use for training students preparing to engage in their first therapy practicum experiences.
Title: Does deliberate practice surpass didactic training in learning empathy skills? – A randomized controlled study.
Reference: Larsson, J., Werthén, D., Carlsson, J., Salim, O., Davidsson, E., Vaz, A., Sousa, D., & Norberg, J. (2023). Does deliberate practice surpass didactic training in learning empathy skills? – A randomized controlled study. Nordic Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/19012276.2023.2247572
Major finding: Participants in the DP-group showed improved empathic expression, whereas participants in the didactical training group did not. At post-intervention, the gender differences were no longer significant indicating that with training, males and females reached a similar level of performance. This is in line with previous research showing that training can reduce potential initial gender differences in empathy.
Title: Experiential Training of Mental Health Graduate Students in Emotional Processing Skills: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Reference: Yamin, J. B., Cannoy, C. N., Gibbins, K. M., Krohner, S., Rapport, L. J., Trentacosta, C. J., Zeman, L. L., & Lumley, M. A. (2023, June 29). Experiential Training of Mental Health Graduate Students in Emotional Processing Skills: A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Psychotherapy. Advance online publication. https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pst0000495
Major finding: One session of experiential training improved trainees’ emotional processing therapy skills more than didactic training, although more training and practice likely are needed to yield longer lasting skills.
Title: A scoping review of deliberate practice in the acquisition of therapeutic skills and practices
Reference: Mahon, D. (2022). A scoping review of deliberate practice in the acquisition of therapeutic skills and practices. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 00, 1– 17. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12601
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Bottom line of this paper: Findings suggest that DP is still in its infancy and is being used to train practitioners in a host of therapeutic skills and practices in various training and educational contexts, including using technology as a platform. DP compares more favourably than usual didactic workshops for skill acquisition across variables such as techniques, communication skills and interpersonal and evidence-based relationship factors.
Title: Therapists' self‐assessment of time spent on learning activities and its relationship to treatment outcomes: A replication study
Reference: Janse, P.D., Bakker-Brehm, D. T., Geurtzen, N., Scholing, A., & Hutschemaekers, G. J. (2022). Therapists' self‐assessment of time spent on learning activities and its relationship to treatment outcomes: A replication study. Journal of Clinical Psychology. DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23459
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Bottom line of this paper: The results showed that the total amount of time that therapists indicated they spent on learning activities did not predict clients' treatment outcomes. Also, no specific learning activities were related to clients' outcomes. Nevertheless, therapists indicated that they perceived several specific activities to be highly relevant for improving their skills.
Title: A framework for culturally humble therapeutic responses using the deliberate practice multicultural orientation video prompts
Reference: Liu, N. H., & Herndon, J. L. (2022). A framework for culturally humble therapeutic responses using the deliberate practice multicultural orientation video prompts. Practice Innovations. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000177
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Bottom line of this paper: Using deliberate practice multicultural orientation framework video prompts, the authors provide clinical responses to standardized behavioral patient vignettes to illustrate a framework that is both culturally humble and therapeutically meaningful.
Title: Clarifying Deliberate Practice for Mental Health Training
Reference: Vaz, A., & Rousmaniere, T. (2022). Clarifying Deliberate Practice for Mental Health Training. Seattle, WA: Sentio University. Retrieved from http://www.sentio.org
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Bottom line of this paper: DP research and implementation is hindered by confusions on what distinguishes DP from traditional psychotherapy training. This paper clarifies five key differences between DP and other forms of psychotherapy training.
Title: Deliberate practice of consultation communication skills: A randomized controlled trial.
Reference: Newman, D. S., Villarreal, J. N., Gerrard, M. K., McIntire, H., Barrett, C. A., & Kaiser, L. T. (2022). Deliberate practice of consultation communication skills: A randomized controlled trial. School Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000494
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Bottom line of this paper: Students who completed the DP training significantly increased their use of communication skills during a simulated practice opportunity, while the control group participants did not.
Title: How students use deliberate practice during the first stage of counsellor training
Reference: McLeod, J. (2021). How students use deliberate practice during the first stage of counsellor training. Couns Psychother Res. 00:1– 12. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12397
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Bottom line of this paper: It took time for students to internalise principles of deliberate practice. They reported a wide range of deliberate practice learning activities, both within and beyond the classroom, and regarded these tasks as having made a significant positive contribution to their learning.
Title: Testing a Deliberate Practice Workshop for Developing Appropriate Responsivity to Resistance Markers
Reference: Westra, H., Norouszian, N., Poulin, L., Hara, K., Coyne, A., Constantino, M.J., Olson, D., & Antony, M.M. (in-press). Testing a Deliberate Practice Workshop for Developing Appropriate Responsivity to Resistance Markers. Psychotherapy. (publication in-press)
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Bottom line of this paper: results from a controlled trial with four month follow-up suggest that deliberate practice enhances acquisition of skills related to Motivational Interviewing.
Title: Improving Therapists’ Effectiveness: Can Deliberate Practice Help?
Reference: Clements-Hickman, A. L., & Reese, R. J. (2020). Improving Therapists’ Effectiveness: Can Deliberate Practice Help?. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pro0000318
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Bottom line of this paper: a good summary of some concerns that DP research needs to address.
Title: Rolling with resistance: A client language analysis of deliberate practice in continuing education for psychotherapists
Reference: Di Bartolomeo, A., Shukla, S., Westra, H., Ghashghaei, N. & Olson, D. (2020). Rolling with resistance: A client language analysis of deliberate practice in continuing education for psychotherapists. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. 1-9. 10.1002/capr.12335.
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Bottom line of this paper: results from a controlled trial with four month follow-up suggest that deliberate practice helped therapists acquire skills related to Motivational Interviewing (MI).
Title: Brief Training In Psychological Assessment And Interventions Skills For Cancer Care Staff: A Mixed Methods Evaluation Of Deliberate Practice Techniques
Reference: Barrett‐Naylor, R., Malins, S., Levene, J., Biswas, S., Mays, C., & Main, G. (2020). Brief Training In Psychological Assessment And Interventions Skills For Cancer Care Staff: A Mixed Methods Evaluation Of Deliberate Practice Techniques. Psycho‐Oncology.
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Title: Effects of simulation-based deliberate practice on nursing students’ communication, empathy, and self-efficacy.
Li, J., Li, X., Gu, L., Zhang, R., Zhao, R., Cai, Q., Li, Y., Wang, H., Meng, Q., & Wei, H. (2019). Effects of simulation-based deliberate practice on nursing students’ communication, empathy, and self-efficacy. The Journal of Nursing Education, 58(12), 681–689. doi: https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20191120-02
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Title: Learning how to learn: Psychology Trainees’ Self-compassion while implementing Deliberate Practice, with FIT at a Psychotherapy Training Clinic
Reference: Rosén, E. (2019). Learning how to learn: Psychology Trainees’ Self-compassion while implementing Deliberate Practice, with FIT at a Psychotherapy Training Clinic.
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Title: The impact of alliance-focused and facilitative interpersonal relationship training on therapist skills: An RCT of brief training
Reference: Perlman, M. R., Anderson, T., Foley, V. K., Mimnaugh, S., & Safran, J. D. (2020). The impact of alliance-focused and facilitative interpersonal relationship training on therapist skills: An RCT of brief training. Psychotherapy Research, 1-14.
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Title: An evaluation of the effectiveness and acceptability of a new technology system to support psychotherapy helping skills training
Reference: Murphy D, Liao F, Slovak P, et al. (2019). An evaluation of the effectiveness and acceptability of a new technology system to support psychotherapy helping skills training. Couns Psychother Res. 2020;20:324–335. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12275
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Title: Modeling therapist responses with structured practice enhances facilitative interpersonal skills
Reference: Anderson T, Perlman MR, McCarrick S, McClintock A. (2019). Modeling therapist responses with structured practice enhances facilitative interpersonal skills. J. Clin Psychol. 2019;1–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22911
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Title: Deliberate practice for the skill of immediacy: A multiple case study of doctoral student therapists and clients
Reference: Hill, C. E., Kivlighan, D. M., Rousmaniere, T., Kivlighan, D. M., Gerstenblith, J. A., & Hillman, J. W. (2019). Deliberate practice for the skill of immediacy: A multiple case study of doctoral student therapists and clients. Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.).
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Title: Creating a Climate for Therapist Improvement: A Case Study of an Agency Focused on Outcomes and Deliberate Practice
Reference: Goldberg, S. B., Babins-Wagner, R., Rousmaniere, T., Berzins, S., Hoyt, W. T., Whipple, J. L., ... & Wampold, B. E. (2016). Creating a climate for therapist improvement: A case study of an agency focused on outcomes and deliberate practice. Psychotherapy, 53(3), 367.
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Title: The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Development of Highly Effective Psychotherapists
Reference: Chow, D. L., Miller, S. D., Seidel, J. A., Kane, R. T., Thornton, J. A., & Andrews, W. P. (2015). The role of deliberate practice in the development of highly effective psychotherapists. Psychotherapy, 52(3), 337.
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