How psychotherapists are trained
SPRISTAD - international collaborative study on the training and development of psychotherapists
Project overview
The Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy I participates in SPRISTAD, an international research group of the Society of Psychotherapy Research (SPR) focussing on the training and development of psychotherapists.
Since 2011, psychotherapy researchers from many countries have been meeting to discuss topics related to the training and development of psychotherapists. A central focus is the long-term study that examines the experiences of psychotherapy trainees during their training.
Since 2013, co-operation partners from 23 countries and 96 training institutes have taken part in the study.
So far, more than 1,500 trainees have shared their experiences with us. University or private training institutes whose programmes last at least one year can take part in the study. In this research group, we have developed forms to collect information about the trainees' experiences in the training programme as well as about the training institutes and supervisors. Both quantitative and qualitative data are collected.
The online tools are available in several languages, including Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian and Spanish. The SPRISTAD study is coordinated by the Research Committee in collaboration with the Steering Committee.
Further information
Persons involved
The current Chairman (2023 - 2025) is Thomas Schroder.
Previous chairmen:
- Armin Hartmann (2020 - 2023)
- Ulrike Willutzki (2018 - 2020)
- Michael Helge Rønnestad (2016 - 2018)
- Bernhard Strauss (2014 - 2016)
- David Orlinsky (2011 - 2014)
Designated chairman: Erkki Heinonen
Advisors: inside: Henriette Löffler-Stastka, Irene Messina and Jan Pirke
The data collection team at Witten/Herdecke University consists of Prof Dr Ulrike Willutzki, Alexander Maschmeier, Marie-Kristin Apel and Elena Haag.
Aims of the study
- Understand changes in psychotherapy trainees during their training,
- Identify factors that promote or hinder the trainees' development,
- Collect qualitative and quantitative data on these changes in many psychotherapy trainees in different training programmes.
Who can take part in SPRISTAD?
Any training programme that lasts at least 12 months.
Conditions:
- A SPRISTAD member acts as the local research coordinator and/or there is a connection to SPRISTAD.
- and/or there is a connection to SPRISTAD.
The SPRISTAD data collection team at UW/H (from left): Prof. Dr. Ulrike Willutzki, Alexander Maschmeier, Marie-Kristin Apel, Elena Haag (Photo: UW/H)
Participating countries (as of June 2019)
Project management
Jan Pirke, M. Sc.
Research assistant
Faculty of Health (Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy) | Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50
58448 WittenRoom number: 1.122