Training High Intensity CBT Therapists in other Modalities of Therapy: Can we change their Minds?

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme (IAPT) in England has had a major impact on the provision of psychological therapies at a primary care level. It has also had a very large impact of the training of psychological therapists. These developments have drawn considerable criticism from a range of sources. One important focus of such criticisms has been the apparent exclusive focus on CBT to the exclusion of other perspectives. This paper concerns a quantitative and qualitative investigation into the experience of trainee high-intensity CBT therapists who engage in a brief training programme concerning other modalities of therapy. The paper explores the extent to which participation in this training changes trainees' minds regarding the relevance of these modalities to their practice as CBT therapists. Additionally, the paper explores what aspects of each modality are experienced by trainees as relevant and helpful, versus those that are experienced as inconsistent or unhelpful. Results of this investigation are discussed in terms of criticisms of IAPT and CBT as the primary modality of therapy offered in IAPT.