Patient Feedback for Psychotherapy Trainees: Reviewing Current Assessment Tools for Common Themes
Location
Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation (CALS)
Publication Date
April 2025
Start Date
17-4-2025 8:00 AM
Description
Background: Faculty have less time for direct observation of trainees learning psychotherapy, meaning less direct feedback. Patient feedback forms can assist trainees learning psychotherapy skills, which may lead to better outcomes for patients. To date, there are few validated assessment tools available, especially for child and adolescent therapists. This review attempted to identify the feedback tools that are currently available and may provide the most meaningful feedback for psychotherapy trainees. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, PsycInfo and Google Scholar to identify validated assessment tools designed to measure patient perception of therapy sessions. Inclusion criteria included tools with reliability and validity across a range of therapeutic modalities, those designed for child and adolescent patient populations and that can be administered in the clinical setting. Next, these tools were reviewed for common themes and a unique feedback form was created. Results: Key assessment tools identified in the search included: 1. Child Session Rating Scale (CSRS) 2. Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) 3. Helping Alliance Questionnaire (HAq-II) 4. Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) 5. Therapeutic Alliance Scales for Children (TASC) 6. Youth Outcome Questionnaire (Y‐OQ‐30) 7. Adolescent Feedback Form (AACAP) Discussion: Multiple assessment tools were identified, but they were not consistent in their measurements and usually lacked specificity. Not all of the assessment tools led to improvements in delivery of therapy or enhanced patient outcomes. Currently, it is not clear what questions should be included in a formal assessment tool for a child and adolescent provider training in psychotherapy. Next steps should identify which questions to include in a formal assessment measure. Reviewing the different tools for common themes is a helpful first start. Keywords: Therapy feedback form, Psychotherapy assessment tools, session evaluation, therapeutic alliance, patient feedback
Recommended Citation
Sapora, George "Riley" MD and Foret, Rachel MD, "Patient Feedback for Psychotherapy Trainees: Reviewing Current Assessment Tools for Common Themes" (2025). Dept. of Psychiatry Research Symposium. 22.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/psych_rd/2025/presentations/22
Patient Feedback for Psychotherapy Trainees: Reviewing Current Assessment Tools for Common Themes
Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation (CALS)
Background: Faculty have less time for direct observation of trainees learning psychotherapy, meaning less direct feedback. Patient feedback forms can assist trainees learning psychotherapy skills, which may lead to better outcomes for patients. To date, there are few validated assessment tools available, especially for child and adolescent therapists. This review attempted to identify the feedback tools that are currently available and may provide the most meaningful feedback for psychotherapy trainees. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, PsycInfo and Google Scholar to identify validated assessment tools designed to measure patient perception of therapy sessions. Inclusion criteria included tools with reliability and validity across a range of therapeutic modalities, those designed for child and adolescent patient populations and that can be administered in the clinical setting. Next, these tools were reviewed for common themes and a unique feedback form was created. Results: Key assessment tools identified in the search included: 1. Child Session Rating Scale (CSRS) 2. Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) 3. Helping Alliance Questionnaire (HAq-II) 4. Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) 5. Therapeutic Alliance Scales for Children (TASC) 6. Youth Outcome Questionnaire (Y‐OQ‐30) 7. Adolescent Feedback Form (AACAP) Discussion: Multiple assessment tools were identified, but they were not consistent in their measurements and usually lacked specificity. Not all of the assessment tools led to improvements in delivery of therapy or enhanced patient outcomes. Currently, it is not clear what questions should be included in a formal assessment tool for a child and adolescent provider training in psychotherapy. Next steps should identify which questions to include in a formal assessment measure. Reviewing the different tools for common themes is a helpful first start. Keywords: Therapy feedback form, Psychotherapy assessment tools, session evaluation, therapeutic alliance, patient feedback