Does an eight-week practice course improve the alliance?

The study: A pilot randomized trial with 37 CBT therapists: eight weekly online group workshops with role-play, repetition and peer feedback, compared with a waitlist. Patients rated the alliance anonymously.

What they found: The course did not improve patient-rated working alliance. A non-significant trend pointed in the opposite direction. The authors note methodological limitations and call for more rigorous studies.

Why it matters for practice: A useful null result. Peer-feedback formats and alliance as an outcome may need different designs, and not every practice format will translate into what clients feel.

Lagerberg, H., Boswell, J. F., Constantino, M. J., Andersson, G., & Carlbring, P. (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, 6(3), e12353. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.12353