Professional training in healthcare
Evidence-based medicine aims to combine empirically supported interventions with guideline-based treatment and clinical expertise. In this context, training in the health professions is often not very evidence-based and competence profiles are strongly influenced by the respective approach. As part of our professionalization research, we are evaluating current psychotherapy training in terms of competency acquisition and developing programs to support health professionals in their general communication and relationship skills. In doing so, we place an emphasis on coping with crisis interpersonal situations such as those described in the rupture-repair approach and the bio-behavioral switching model of mentalization. Here we assume that interpersonal conflicts are constitutive for the field of work, but challenge interpersonal competencies of professionals and therefore can result in negative interactions, such as loss of mentalizing, automatic behavior, and hostility in communication. Professionals can benefit from knowing about these contexts, learning skills, and practicing difficult situations with simulation patients in the sense of deliberate practice. For this purpose, there is, for example, a cooperation with the dynamics study at the Heidelberg Institute for Psychotherapy (HIP). Another approach is the establishment of systematic feedback on interpersonal competencies and studies on the course of professional development between growth and professional exhaustion. Positively evaluated concepts will be manualized and thus disseminated (dissemintaion).
ONGOING PROJECTS
For more information about current and completed projects of the Research Center for Psychotherapy, please click on the respective project name:
Duration: 2019-2021
Funding: Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee
Mentalization competencies in early intervention services
Duration: 2017-2020
Funding: Nationales Zentrum Frühe Hilfen (NZFH) with funds from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ)
Competence development of psychotherapists in training (KPA)
Duration: 2011-2016
Funding: German Research Foundation