‘Don't just magically assume you're going to get better as a therapist as time goes on’: An exploration of the use of deliberate practice

Abstract

Purpose

Deliberate practice (DP) is an emerging concept in counselling and psychotherapy research that can be used to effectively help practitioners develop a host of therapy skills and processes. However, to date, no studies have examined its use in naturalistic settings with professionally qualified practitioners.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive approach using content analysis was employed with a purposive sample of international practitioners who were using DP in naturalistic settings. The sample consisted of therapists (N = 6) from five different countries, identifying as male (N = 5) and female (N = 1).

Results

Six categories were developed from qualitative interviews: (1) motivation for engaging in DP; (2) the impact of definition and operationalisation; (3) what to practice; (4) how to practice DP; (5) use of supports to develop DP; and (6) the emotional impact of DP. Deliberate practice is still in its infancy, and its definition may not translate into psychotherapy without modification. Participants described using DP to develop a host of psychotherapy skills and processes, and found support structures such as supervision and peers as helpful in the DP process. However, DP was also described as challenging to practice and it can cause those engaging in it to feel vulnerable and distressed. Implications are discussed for practice and future research.

Conclusion

Deliberate practice is an emerging method used by practitioners to improve their skill acquisition. However, a lack of consensus on its key features may limit the extent of its dissemination and utility to practitioners in naturalistic settings. Further research should seek to provide a definition of DP more consistent with the practice of psychotherapy, and how to operationalise DP using methods that are inclusive for all practitioners whilst acknowledging the potential impact it can have on their sense of self.