Development and preliminary validation of the Group Cognitive Therapy Scale

Abstract

Abstract Aim The aim of this research was to create a scale to assess the competency of therapists who conduct group cognitive behavioral therapy (G‐CBT). The scale is intended to serve as a tool to aid the training of therapists. Methods Three stepped studies were conducted. Process 1: Through literature review and experts' consensus process, essential skills for G‐CBT were articulated and categorized according to the criteria of the Cognitive Therapy Scale, a well‐established rating scale for evaluating clinicians' skills in individual cognitive behavioral therapy. The list of those skills was organized into a rating scale. Process 2: Behavioral anchors were added to each skill and were classified by the levels of difficulty (beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels), based on the rating by G‐CBT experts. Process 3: Inter‐rater reliability and validity of the rating scale were examined in a sample of 41 videotaped G‐CBT sessions of actual clinical sessions and educational role‐plays. Results The 12‐item Group Cognitive Therapy Scale (G‐CTS) was developed. It consists of 11 items that are adapted from the original Cognitive Therapy Scale, and a new 12th item called “Intervention using relationships with other participants,” which describes therapists' skills to address group dynamics. The G‐CTS showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α : 0.95), satisfactory inter‐rater reliability (interclass correlation coefficients: 0.65–0.88), and high predictive validity. Conclusion A novel rating scale to evaluate therapists' competency in G‐CBT was developed and successfully validated. The G‐CTS behavioral checklist created in this study provides concrete guidelines that can be used by therapists to hone their skills in G‐CBT.