‘Just such a massive, monumentous achievement’: an exploratory study on how trainee and recently qualified CBT practitioners experience postgraduate CBT training and understand its contribution to the development of competence

Abstract The literature on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) practitioner development suggests that extensive training that monitors adherence and reinforces skilfulness produces increased therapist competence, which is related to better patient outcomes. However, little is still known about how trainees perceive their training and its impact on what they understand to be competent CBT practice. Fifteen trainee and recently qualified CBT practitioners who were taking or had taken a UK BABCP Level 2 CBT training course were recruited and asked to complete a photo elicitation task followed by a semi-structured individual interview. Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in an over-arching theme of training as a personal odyssey , consisting of four main themes: (1) an opportunity to work in a meaningful and interesting profession ; (2) a reflective learning process , (3) a well-rounded practitioner , and (4) a worthwhile outcome. The multi-faceted nature of each theme is described and related to existing theory and to author reflexivity. Recommendations are made for ways these findings might be applied to help make CBT training more effective and less demanding, and for future research. Limitations of the study include the preponderance of participants drawn from the NHS Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression programme in England and the lack of gender and ethnic diversity. Key learning aims (1) To understand better the motivation to train, and the experience of training and its outcomes for trainee and recently qualified UK CBT practitioners. (2) To explore what competence in CBT means to participants, and how they evaluate their competence. (3) To describe participants’ perceptions of how training has influenced their own development of competence including the role of the personal and professional selves. (4) To consider practical implications for CBT training.