ABSTRACT
There are probably as many ways to improve one's skills in therapy as there are trainers and trainees. Whether one is fairly new to the practice of psychological treatment of depressed patients or has a great deal of experience, the improvement of skills remains an important component of one's job. To some extent we may apply the same model to our own skills as we ask our patients to apply in coping with their lives: we may learn to determine appropriate goods for our therapeutic practice, then decide what strategieswill make those goals more likely. Within each general strategy, there will be specific tactics which will be optimal in attaining the desired goals. In order to improve these skills we shall need to do what we require of our patients: to self-monitor, self-evaluate and self-reinforce. The first of these is easy to arrange. We can tape our interactions with some patients some of the time, and it may be useful to be specific in scheduling this into our therapeutic practice. This can be a very revealing exercise. There is often no harsher critic of one's practice than oneself. On the other hand it has its drawbacks. We may be better at spotting our faults than knowing how to put them right. In this respect, it is often useful to hold group discussions on a regular basis with close colleagues who are grappling with the same issues. Such regular discussions will help the self-evaluation and self-reinforcement aspects of skill development. This section of the book aims to provide some material which individuals or groups may find helpful in their own skills training. Part I contains some case descriptions together with questions to direct the attention to certain aspects of the material. The focus is on determining general therapeutic strategies. Part II becomes more particular, focusing on determining strategies within the therapy session. Part III is similarly specific, but focuses on between-session homeworks, diaries and thought forms. Part IV gives some suggested techniques for role induction, should a group wish to use role-play format as a training exercise. Finally, Part V gives hints on dealing with common frustrations in therapy.
