Training in Group Psychotherapy: Residency Experience, Use in Practice and Self-Perception of Competence

Abstract

The authors report the responses of psychiatrists in North Carolina to mail questionnaire regarding the roles of didactic preparation, experience as a group member, and experience as a leader in group therapy training. The role of these training factors in the practice of group therapy after the residency was sought. One-quarter of the respondents had led a therapy group during their residency; of these, over 80% had less than 20 hours of didactic preparation and 20 hours membership experience. Those who went on to practice group psychotherapy were more likely to have been members of a training group and to have led a group, while there was no difference associated with hours of didactic exposure. Didactic content of the training program did not influence practitioner’s perceptions of their adequacy to lead groups or refer group patients; however. hours of experience as a group leader and membership in a training group were positively associated with practitioner’s self-perceptions. These findings affirm the need for prospective study of the impact of training on later practice behavior. The adequacy of typically brief training experiences must also be assessed.