A qualitative study of therapists’ use of empirically supported techniques for PTSD

TL;DR

This study explores how therapists use and perceive evidence-based techniques like CBT and EMDR for treating PTSD in real-world settings.

Contribution

The study provides new qualitative insights into therapists' implementation and perceptions of PTSD treatment techniques.

Findings

Therapists often integrate CBT and EMDR techniques in a client-centered way.

There is reluctance to use exposure sessions in CBT, especially when viewed as in vivo exposure.

Some therapists interpret EMDR as a form of imaginal exposure.

Abstract

Understanding how practicing therapists implement and perceive exposure techniques, as well as other empirically supported treatment components for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as those found in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), is essential for improving the delivery of effective interventions. This study aims to contribute to that effort by exploring the experiences and attitudes of therapists who treat PTSD in clinical practice.

As part of a broader mixed-methods inquiry, in-depth interviews were conducted.

Findings aligned with several a priori themes, while additional themes also emerged from the data. The findings suggest that therapists often employ a client-centered integration of CBT and EMDR techniques. There was also a noted reluctance to use exposure sessions in CBT for PTSD, particularly when therapists interpreted exposure primarily as in vivo exposure. While many interviewees equated exposure techniques with in vivo sessions, some viewed EMDR as a form of imaginal exposure.

These findings contribute to the growing body of qualitative research on therapist-related factors that influence the implementation of effective PTSD interventions. Additional themes are discussed, along with implications for improving intervention delivery and directions for future research.