Abstract
Self-related Experience in the Training of Behavior Therapists: Overview and First Evaluation of a Program Background: During the past years, a growing body of research has documented the importance of scientific evaluation of selfrelated experience (SE) as an element in the training and education of behavior therapists. After a survey of the literature this paper describes the SE concept developed through our research group and a first attempt of its evaluation. Method: Our primary interest was to assess the group experience over the course of 100 hours distributed over 4 weekends. The main focus was on the third weekend, which included an additional evaluation process of participants and group leaders. We further assessed the participants’ expectations as well as their ratings after participation. Results: Results of the group experience indicate that the evaluation on the third weekend stimulated a reflection of intra- and interindividual processes and facilitated new learning experiences. Before starting the SE group, participants mainly expected a development of their basic therapeutic skills (e.g. empathy, positive regard). However, according to the retrospective ratings of the participants, personal aspects of self-experience have been addressed more intensively and their conveyance was rated as more effective. The expectations before beginning SE were generally higher than the ratings of the perceived contents after participation. Conclusions: The results suggest that the value of SE depend on participants’ experience as therapists as well as on duration and level of their training as behavior therapists. Accordingly, the contents of SE should be adapted in a flexible way.