Larger Text
Smaller TextPostgraduate Psychotherapy Program
Psychotherapy Program Coordinator
Aims of the Program
The specific aim of our program is to graduate highly skilled young psychiatrists who are able to practice a variety of psychotherapies in an empirically informed manner with patients with general psychiatric disorders and other psychological problems. The focus in training is to teach residents the important general therapeutic skills as well as specific skills necessary in the treatment of specific disorders.
The graduate psychiatrist will have the skills to develop a good therapeutic alliance with a patient, regardless of the therapy being practiced, including pharmacotherapy. They will be able to implement appropriate, effective psychotherapeutic treatment for patients with major mental illness. The program should further instill in our residents "open-mindedness" about the different schools of psychotherapy, so that it is more objective and amenable to evaluation of competence, a much needed direction in this field.
Outline of the Program
Thirteen psychotherapy modules, varying in degrees of proficiency are completed over a four-year program:
Proficiency (primary therapist with ongoing supervision)
- Supportive (Emotion-Focused Therapy)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Psychodynamic
- Family or Group
Working Knowledge (participate as a co-therapist)
- Behavioural
- Group or Family
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy
- Interpersonal
Introductory Knowledge (recognize, identify, and describe principles)
- Brief (integrated with Psychodynamic)
- Mindfulness (integrated with CBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Relaxation (integrated with CBT)
Seminars teach basic principles and research in each area. Residents conduct therapy with the aid of manuals, and all sessions are audio or video-taped for ongoing feedback from expert supervisors.
Each of the modules is complemented by an online educational component, utilizing PTeR (Psychotherapy Training e-Resources). The online component of the program includes a series of modules designed to enhance and support learning in each of the psychotherapy modalities. Each online module includes an overview of the course, pre and post tests, detailed reading lists and a session-by-session outline of classroom seminars (including PowerPoint presentations), supervision requirements, and videotaped vignettes which demonstrate the techniques used in the type of psychotherapy being illustrated.
Therapist competency is assessed by an objective evaluator using therapist rating scales to provide early and late session ratings of resident performance on audio or videotapes. The emphasis of the program is on providing a broad-based, empirically-oriented learning experience, teaching specific skills, establishing a positive therapeutic alliance, and connecting the teaching of psychotherapy to treatment of general psychiatric disorders. Success of this program has depended on active collaboration between disciplines, proponents of different psychotherapy schools, clinics and hospital teaching units, and specialty programs.
