Video recorded treatment sessions for professional development

Purpose:Professional development is seen as a crucial aspect of work as a counsellor, however, little is known about how to make these learning experiences more effective. One specific tool that might improve the learning process is the use of video recorded counselling sessions. This literature review aimed to examine the empirical evidence for using video recorded counselling sessions for professional development.Methods:A systematic literature search identified 27 relevant studies; including 13 surveys and 14 outcome studies.Findings:Results indicated that, despite counsellors’ and clients’ initial anxiety, the use of video recorded sessions does not appear to be harmful, and may be beneficial to supervisors, counsellors and clients. Benefits included outcomes such as improved counsellors’ self-assessment skills, counselling skills, and understanding of in-session experiences, and improved supervisors’ diagnostic accuracy and assessment of supervisees’ level of clinical competency.Discussion:These preliminary empirical findings suggest that the use of video recorded treatment sessions is likely to be beneficial to counsellors, clients and supervisors. Further research on how to make most effective use of therapy recordings as professional development tool is warranted.