AN EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CO-THERAPY SUPERVISION ON TREATMENT OUTCOME, CLIENT RETENTION, AND THERAPY TRAINING

Co-therapy has been theorized to be effective both as a treatment technique and as a training technique for beginning therapists. However, little data exists to support either claim. The present study examined the effectiveness of co-therapy in both capacities. Groups of clients treated by supervisor-trainee duos and groups of clients treated by solo trainees with varying exposure to co-therapy supervision were compared on changes in scores on the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45). A comparison in the percentage of clients dropping out of treatment was also made across the groups. Although the results indicated that therapy produced statistically significant changes, with clients experiencing a reduction in scores on the OQ-45 across time, there was no difference between groups in the magnitude or direction of change. There was also no difference between groups on the variable of client retention. These results suggest that therapy provided by a supervisor-trainee duo was no more effective for the client than therapy provided by a solo trainee. Similarly, co-therapy supervision was no more effective for the trainee than ex post facto supervision.