Training Counselors in Clinical Case Formulation: A Proof of Concept of the Thematic Mapping Method

Case formulation, or the way in which clinicians synthesize client information and formulate appropriate treatment directions, is a crucial part of counseling and clinical training. Thematic mapping is a transtheoretical, transdiagnostic strategy of case conceptualization that provides a holistic, complex, multicultural formulation of clients. This proof of concept study evaluated the relationship of a training in the thematic mapping method and case conceptualization quality. Supervisors trained six second-year counselors in the method, along with application to clinical cases, during weekly group supervision. Case formulation complexity, evidence of a systematic approach, level of detail, and goodness-of-fit from client data to synthesized conceptualizations were evaluated over the period using the Case Formulation Content Coding Method. Descriptive results suggest all participants exhibited significant improvement in these areas, providing preliminary support for the practical potential of thematic mapping in counselor training.