Deliberate Practice and Top Performance – Page 4 – Scott D.Miller

After the Thrill is Gone: Sustaining a Commitment to Routinely Seeking Feedback

Helsingor Castle (the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet) Dateline: May 8th, 2010, Helsingor, Denmark This weekend I’m in Denmark doing a two-day workshop on "Supershrinks" sponsored by Danish psychologist and ICCE Senior Associate and Trainer Susanne Bargmann. Just finished the first day with a group of 30 talented clinicians working diligently to achieve their personal best. The… — read more
Finding Feasible Measures for Practice-Based Evidence

Let’s face it. Clinicians are tired. Tired of paperwork (electronic or othrwise). When I’m out and about training–which is every week by the way–and encouraging therapists to monitor and measure outcomes in their daily work few disagree in principle. The pain is readily apparent however, the minute the paper version of the Outcome Rating Scale flashes on the… — read more
Learning, Mastery, and Achieving One’s Personal Best

Dateline: Sunday, April 25th, 2010 Chicago, IL There’s a feeling I get whenever I’m learning something new. It’s a combination of wonder and possibility. Even though I’ve been traveling and teaching full time for over 18 years, I still feel that get that feeling of excitement whenever I step on a plane: What will I see? Who will… — read more
Eruptions in Europe and in Research

Dateline: 11:20 am, April 18th, 2010 Today I was supposed to fly from Stockholm, Sweden to the far northern town of Skelleftea–a flight that takes a little over an hour. Instead, I’m sitting on a train headed for Sundsvall, the first leg of a 12 hour trip that will include a 6 hour bus ride… — read more
Improving Outcomes in the Treatment of Obesity via Practice-Based Evidence: Weight Loss, Nutrition, and Work Productivity

Obesity is a large and growing problem in the United States and elswhere. Data gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics indicate that 33% Americans are obese. When overweight people are added to the mix, the figure climbs to a staggering 66%! The problem is not likely to go away soon or on its own as the same figures apply… — read more
Problems in Evidence-Based Land: Questioning the Wisdom of "Preferred Treatments"

This last week, Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor for the U.K. Independent published an article entitled, “The big question: Does cognitive therapy work? And should the NHS (National Health Service) provide more of it?” Usually such questions are limited to professional journals and trade magazines. Instead, it ran in the “Life and Style” section of one of Britain’s… — read more
Neurobabble: Comments from Dr. Mark Hubble on the Latest Fad in the World of Therapy

Rarely does a day go by without hearing about another "advance" in the neurobiology of human behavior. Suddenly, it seems, the world of psychotherapy has discovered that people have brains! And now where the unconscious, childhood, emotions, behaviors, and cognitions once where…neurons, plasticity, and magnetic resonance imagining now is. Alas, we are a field forever… — read more
Outcomes in New Zealand

Made it back to Chicago after a week in New Zealand providing training and consultation. As I blogged about last Thursday, the last two days of my trip were spent in Christchurch providing a two-day training on "What Works" for Te Pou–New Zealand’s National Centre of Mental Health Research, Information, and Workforce Development. Last year… — read more
Is Professional Training a Waste of Time?

Every year, thousands of students graduate from professional programs with degrees enabling them to work in the field of behavioral health. Many more who have already graduated and are working as a social worker, psychologist, counselor, or marriage and family therapist attend—often by legal mandate—continuing education events. The costs of such training in terms of time and… — read more
Excellence on a Shoestring: The “Home for Good” Program

Today I’m teaching in Christchurch, New Zealand. For the last two days, I’ve been in Nelson, a picturesque coastal town opposite Abel Tasman, working with the local DHB (District Health Board). If you’ve never visited, make a point of adding the country to your list of top travel destinations. The landscape and the people are second to none. (In… — read more
Addressing the Financial Crisis in Public Behavioral Healthcare Head On in Chesterfield, Virginia

If you are following me on Twitter (and I hope you are), you know the last month has been extremely busy. This week I worked with clinicians in Peterborough, Ontario Canada. Last week, I was in Nashville, Tennessee and Richmond Virginia. Prior to that, I spent nearly two weeks in Europe, providing training and consultations in the… — read more
Deliberate Practice, Expertise, & Excellence

Later today, I board United flight 908 on my way to workshops scheduled in Holland and Belgium. My routine in the days leading up to an international trip is always the same. I slowly gather together the items I’ll need while away: computer (check); european electric adapter (check); presentation materials (check); clothes (check). And, oh yeah, two decks of playing cards… — read more
The Future of Behavioral Health: Integrated Care & Entrepreneurship

Nicholas Cummings, Ph.D. Sometime in late 1986 I wrote a letter to Dr. Nicholas Cummings. As a then student-member of the American Psychological Association (APA), I was automatically subscribed to and receiving the American Psychologist. In the April issue, Dr. Cummings published an article, provocatively titled, "The Dismantling of Our Health System: Strategies for the Survival of Psychological Practice." … — read more
The Turn to Outcomes: A Revolution in Behavioral Health Practice

Get ready. The revolution is coming (if not already here). Whether you are a direct service provider (psychologist, counselor, marriage and family therapist), agency, broker, or funder, you will be required to measure and likely report the outcomes of your clinical work. Jay Lebow, Ph.D. Just this month, Dr. Jay Lebow, a professor of psychology at the… — read more
Practice-Based Evidence in Norway: An Interview with Psychologist Mikael Aagard

For those of you following me on Twitter–and if you’re not, click here to start–you know that I was traveling above the artic circle in Norway last week. I always enjoy visiting the Scandanavia countries. My grandparents immigrated from nearby Sweden. I lived there myself for a number of years (and speak the language). And I am married… — read more
Evidence-based practice or practice-based evidence? Article in the Los Angeles Times addresses the debate in behavioral health

January 11th, 2010 "Debate over Cognitive & Traditional Mental Health Therapy" by Eric Jaffe The fight debate between different factons, interest groups, scholars within the field of mental health hit the pages of the Los Angeles Times this last week. At issue? Supposedly, whether the field will become "scientific" in practice or remain mired in traditions of… — read more
Are all treatments approaches equally effective?

Bruce Wampold, Ph.D. Late yesterday, I blogged about a soon-to-be published article in Clinical Psychology Review in which the authors argue that the finding by Benish, Imel, & Wampold (2008) of equivalence in outcomes among treatments for PTSD was due to, "bias, overgeneralization, lack of transparency, and poor judgement." Which interpretation of the evidence is correct? Are there… — read more
Research on the Outcome Rating Scale, Session Rating Scale & Feedback

"How valid and reliable are the ORS and SRS?" "What do the data say about the impact of routine measurement and feedback on outcome and retention in behavioral health?" "Are the ORS and SRS ‘evidence-based?’" These and other questions regarding the evidentiary support for the ORS, SRS, and feedback are becoming increasingly common in the workshops… — read more
Magical Moments in Kansas

Registrations are already coming in for the first International Conference on "Achieving Clinical Excellence." Earlier on this blog, I announced that internationally known researcher K. Anders Erickson, Ph.D.–the "expert on experts"–had agreed to present at the event. At that time, I also indicated that a number of internationally accomplished performers from a variety of professions (including psychology, business, medicine,… — read more
New Year’s Resolutions: Progress Report and Future Plans

One year ago today, I blogged about my New Year’s resolution to "take up the study of expertise and expert performance." The promise marked a significant departure from my work up to that point in time and was not without controversy. "Was I no longer interested in psychotherapy?" "Had I given up on the common factors? The… — read more
The Study of Excellence: A Radically New Approach to Understanding "What Works" in Behavioral Health

"What works" in therapy? Believe it or not, that question–as simple as it is–has and continues to spark considerable debate. For decades, the field has been divided. On one side are those who argue that the efficacy of psychological treatments is due to specific factors (e.g., changing negative thinking patterns) inherent in the model of… — read more
The Evolution of Psychotherapy: Meeting Michael Hoyt

I’m still reeling from the experience in Anaheim this last week. I met so many leaders in the field, heard so many presentations on cutting edge clinical practice–as well as was reminded of some "classic" principles of effective psychotherapy. One of the people I met was colleague and friend, Michael F. Hoyt, Ph.D. Michael and… — read more
Five Incredible Days in Anaheim

From December 9-13th, eight thousand five hundred mental health practitioners, from countries around the globe, gathered in Anaheim, California to attend the "Evolution of Psychotherapy" conference. Held every five years since 1985, the conference started big and has grown only larger. "Only a few places in the US can accomodate such a large gathering," says Jeffrey K.… — read more
Evolution of Psychotherapy and the International Center for Clinical Excellence

Dateline: Chicago, Illinois December 7, 2009 I’ve just finished packing my bags and am heading for the airport. Tomorrow the "Evolution of Psychotherapy" begins. Nearly 25 years after volunteering at the first "Evolution" conference, I’m back a second time to present. Tomorrow, I’ll be talking about "Achieving Clinical Excellence." On the days that follow, I’m… — read more
Climate Change in Denmark

Hans Christian Andersen, the author of such classic stories as The Ugly Duckling and the Emperor’s New Clothes, once wrote, "Life iteself is the most wonderful fairytale of all." That sentiment is certainly true of my own life. For the last 16 years, I’ve been privileged to travel around the world conducting trainings and providing consultation. Each year, I meet… — read more
Outcomes in OZ III

Dateline: November 28, 2009 Brisbane, Australia Crown Plaza Hotel Pelican Waters Golf Resort & Spa As their name implies, LifeLine Australia is the group people call when they need a helping hand. During the last leg of my tour of eastern Australia, I was lucky enough to spend two days working with Lifeline’s dedicated and talented clinicians on improving… — read more
Outcomes in Oz II

Sitting in my hotel room in Brisbane, Australia. It’s beautfiul here: white, sandy beaches and temperatures hovering around 80 degrees. Can’t say that I’ll be enjoying the sunny weather much. Tomorrow I’ll be speaking to a group of 135+ practitioners about "Supershrinks." I leave for home on Saturday. While it’s cold and overcast in Chicago,… — read more
Outcomes in Oz

Greetings from beautiful Melbourne, Australia! For the next couple of weeks, I’ll be traveling the up and down the east coast of this captivating country, conducting workshops and providing consultations on outcome-informed clinical work. Actually, I’ve had the privilege of visiting and teaching in Australia about once a year beginning in the late 1990’s. Back then, Liz… — read more
Where is Scott Miller going? The Continuing Evolution

I’ve just returned from a week in Denmark providing training for two important groups. On Wednesday and Thursday, I worked with close to 100 mental health professionals presenting the latest information on "What Works" in Therapy at the Kulturkuset in downtown Copenhagen. The training was sponsored by Solutions, an organization directed by Henrik and Mette Pedersen that… — read more
Leading Outcomes in Vermont: The Brattleboro Retreat and Primarilink Project

For the last 7 years, I’ve been traveling to the small, picturesque village of Brattleboro, Vermont to work with clinicians, agency managers, and various state officials on integrating outcomes into behavioral health services. Peter Albert, the director of Governmental Affairs and PrimariLink at the Brattleboro Retreat, has tirelessly criss-crossed the state, promoting outcome-informed clinical work and organizing… — read more