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Getting in the Deliberate Practice HABIT
Type the words, “Old habits …” into Google, and the search engine quickly adds, “die hard” and “are hard to break.” When I did it just now, these were followed by two song titles — one by Hank Williams Jr., the other by Mick Jagger — both dealing with letting go of past relationships. Alas, in love… — read more
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Better Results through Deliberate Practice
The legendary cellist Pablo Casals was once interviewed by comedian George Carlin. When asked why, at age 93, he continued to practice three hours a day, Casals replied, “I’m beginning to show some improvement!” Hard not to feel inspired and humbled by such dedication, eh? And while humorous, Casals was not joking. Across a wide variety… — read more
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Does practice make perfect?
“Practice does not make perfect,” my friend, and award-winning magician, Michael Ammar, is fond of saying. “Rather,” he observes, “practice makes permanent.” Thus, if we are not getting better as we work, our work will simply insure our current performance stays the same. Now, before reading any further, watch a bit of the video below. … — read more
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Do you know Norman Malone? FIT, Grit, and Grace Personified
At the tender age of 10, Norman Malone’s father attacked him and his two younger brothers with a hammer while they slept. Their mother, drugged into unconsciousness by her husband the prior evening, found the children the next morning. Each had suffered grave head wounds, but were alive. Later, all would learn the senior Malone… — read more
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What is the essential quality of effective Feedback? New research points the way
“We should not try to design a better world,” says Owen Barder, senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, “We should make better feedback loops.” Feedback has become a bit of a buzzword in mental health. Therapists are being asked to use formal measures of progress and the quality of the relationship and use… — read more
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Are you Better? Improving Effectiveness One Therapist at a Time
Greetings from snowy Sweden. I’m in the beautiful city of Gothenburg this week, working with therapists and administrators on implementing Feedback-Informed Treatment (FIT). I’m always impressed by the dedication of those who attend the intensive workshops. More, I feel responsible for providing a training that not only results in mastery of the material, but also… — read more
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The Benefits of Doubt: New Research Sheds Light on Becoming a More Effective Therapist
These are exciting times for clinicians. The pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. Researchers are finally beginning to understand what it takes to improve the effectiveness of psychotherapy. Shifting away from the failed, decades-long focus on methods and diagnosis, attention has now turned to the individual practitioner. Such efforts have already shown a… — read more
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Love, Mercy, & Adverse Events in Psychotherapy
Just over a year ago, I blogged about an article that appeared in one of the U.K.’s largest daily newspapers, The Guardian. Below a picture of an attractive, yet dejected looking woman (reclined on a couch), the caption read, “Major new study reveals incorrect … care can do more harm than good.” I was interested. As… — read more
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Becoming a more effective therapist: Three evidence-based clues from research on the field’s most effective practitioners
It’s one of those secrets everyone knows, but few talk openly about: some therapists are more effective than others. Available evidence indicates that clients seen by these practitioners experience 50% more improvement, 50% less drop out, have shorter lengths of stay, and are significantly less likely to deteriorate while in care. So, how do these… — read more
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Therapist Wanted: Dead or Alive
Do you get those letters about the top healthcare providers in your area? At the beginning of the new year, our city’s local magazine publishes a list of the top healthcare providers. It’s a big deal. Organized by location and specialty, the issue contains full-page photos, glossy spreads, and breezy write-ups. Impressive stuff with a… — read more
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Dinner with Paul McCartney (and others)
Growing up, my family had a game we frequently played around the dining room table. “If you could invite anyone to dinner,” it always started,”who would it be?” Invariably, my father chose historical figures: Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, Leonardo Da Vinci. My mom was more inclined toward the living: Jackie O., J.D. Salinger, Lucille Ball. … — read more
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Good News and Bad News about Psychotherapy
Have you seen this month’s issue of, “The National Psychologist?” If you do counseling or psychotherapy, you should read it. The headline screams, “Therapy: No Improvement for 40 Years.” And while I did not know the article would be published, I was not surprised by the title nor it’s contents. The author and associate editor,… — read more
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How Cool is Kuhl? A Man with Vision on a Mission
This week, my colleague and friend, Dr. David Mee-Lee, sent me a link to a blogpost written by Don Kuhl. Actually, I was already a subscriber to Don’s Minful MIDweek blog (you should be too), but my travel this week had prevented me from reading his latest installment. His posts always leave me inspired and give me something… — read more
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An Easy Way to Improve Our Schools (and Psychotherapy)
If you didn’t see the October Atlantic Monthly, you really missed a great issue. In it, Amanda Ripley wrote a delightful and informative article about a simple and straightforward method for improving the performance of the public schools: have kids grade teachers. What kind of grades you ask? Not those on standardized achievement tests, and certainly not measures of a… — read more
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Is Psychotherapy Getting Better?
This last month, I spent a significant amount of time traveling around Europe and Scandanavia (Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands) working with clinicians and mental health agencies implementing Feedback-Informed Treatment. Not infrequently, people ask me, "doesn’t all the travel wear you out?" My pat response is, "No, not at all! The worst part is being… — read more
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Thomas Szasz, M.D.: Memories of a Friend and Mentor
Very early in the morning of December 9th, 2009, I received a call in my hotel room. My long time colleague and mentor, Jeffrey Zeig was on the other end. "May I ask you a favor?" he said. "Of course," I instantly replied, completely unaware of what was coming. "Tom Szasz is caught in a… — read more
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REACHing the Next Level of Clinical Performance: What it Really Takes
Do any of these people look familiar? Well, of course, I’m the guy in the middle pointing. To my left is the rock and roll guitarist Joe Walsh. On my right is world-renowned, card mechanic Richard Turner. Why have I pictured myself sandwiched between these two? Because they are both inspiring examples of what can… — read more
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A Lotta Help from One’s Friends: The Role of Community in the Pursuit of Excellence
Dateline: Chicago, IL USA Hard not to be impressed with the USA Women’s Gymnastic team. What skill, percision, expertise, and excellence. By now, I’m sure you’ve seen the interviews. In all instances, each and every one has focused on the team. Despite some in the media attempting to make stars out of the individual members,… — read more
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A Progress Report on the Science (and Art ) of Psychotherapy: The Psychotherapy Networker 30th Anniversary Edition
The 30th Anniversary Edition of the Psychotherapy Networker has hit newsstands. In it, is an article by Diane Cole taking the measure of psychotherapy. Her question? Has the field gotten any better over the last three decades? The entire issue is a "must read," starting with editor Rich Simon’s lengthy and thought provoking editorial, "Still… — read more
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The New Average: Meeting the Need to Exceed
No matter where you look,good is no longer "good enough." In a recent article in the New York Times, author and trend watcher, Thomas L. Friedman, declared, "Average is Over." It’s an argument similar to the one made over a decade ago by Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton, in his phenomenally… — read more
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The Role of Mentors in the Development of Expertise: Bruce Wampold wins the Beckman Award Honoring Inspirational Professors
Saturday, January 7th, 2012, 7:00 pm EST The Carter Presidential Libary Atlanta, Georgia In 2008, the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Trust Award was created to honor inspirational professors, academic faculty members who have inspired their students to "create an organization, concept, procedure, or movement which has demonsrably conferred a benefit on the community." This last week,… — read more
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Psychologist Alan Kazdin Needs Help: Please Give
Look at this picture. This man needs help. He is psychologist, Alan Kazdin, former president of the American Psychological Association, and current Professor of Psychology at Yale University. A little over a week ago, to the surprise and shock of many in the field, he disclosed a problem in his professional life. In an interview… — read more
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Is Psychotherapy Dead?
"AMERICANS PREFER DRUGS" screams the headline posted by the Reuters news service and attributed to Consumer Reports–one of the most respected periodical for the average American reader. "NEARLY 80 PERCENT TAKE A PILL FOR DEPRESSION," the article continues. Read a little further and do some searching around on the internet and a different story emerges. Americans it turns… — read more
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Deliberate Practice: What’s all the fuss about?
Whatever they might be engaged in—dancing, singling, teaching, or doing therapy, top performers make “it” look so easy. Witnessing such a performance inspires awe and wonder, leading many unitiated to whisper about some being lucky, “born with talent.” How else can one explain the superior abilities of those we admire? “Sure, most will readily acknowledge,… — read more
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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
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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