Virtual training for psychotherapists to improve patient mental health

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The trial recruits licensed psychotherapists in North America and adult patients (≥18 years) who have had fewer than three sessions with a participating therapist. Therapists are assigned to a virtually delivered training program, to training as usual, or to no training, and then deliver six consecutive therapy sessions via a secure, PHIPA-compliant virtual platform to participating patients. Outcomes include therapeutic alliance, therapists' ability to identify and repair alliance tensions, patient mental health measures, and acceptability of the virtual format, with attention to cultural and diversity factors. The study tests feasibility and effectiveness of remote delivery across community practice settings in Canada and the United States.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Therapist participants: The investigators will recruit mental health professionals who deliver psychotherapy in North American community settings; inclusion criteria: therapists are in good standing with their provincial or state regulatory college, their scope of practice includes individual psychotherapy for adults in North America; they are able to accept a minimum of 3 new participating patients into their current practice to conduct 6 consecutive therapy sessions via a secure, PHIPA compliant virtual meeting platform.
* Patient Participants: Adults (\> 18 years) residing in Canada or the United States who want to engage in therapy with a study therapist or who have recently sought services from a study therapist; inclusion criteria: have participated in fewer than 3 sessions with their study therapist and anticipate being able to see their study therapist for 6 sessions over the next 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Therapist participants: The investigators will exclude therapists who are employed by an organization if the investigators cannot obtain organizational approval from their employer or coordinate data collection from an alternate virtual platform in instances where the employing organization does not permit the use of the study platform. Therapists will also be excluded if they have completed professional development workshop after 2017 with PPRNet.
* Patient participants: The investigators will exclude patients if they: (a) have a psychotic or neurocognitive disorder that may preclude engagement in psychotherapy, (b) are in concurrent psychological treatment with another practitioner, (c) are at high risk of suicide or suicidal behaviors as assessed by their therapist (e.g., suicide attempt or hospitalization for suicidal behaviors in the past 6 months), or (d) for whom the therapist judge that approaching them with information about the study will be harmful.

Where it's running

• University of Ottawa
  Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Giorgio A Tasca, PhD — University of Ottawa
• Study coordinator: Giorgio A Tasca, PhD
• Email: gtasca@uottawa.ca
• Phone: 1-613-562-5800

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.