FAP Research in Sweden

Dr. JoAnne Dahl - Uppsala University, Uppsala Sweden

Below is a description of a study currently being conducted examining brief FAP training and the effect on therapeutic alliance.  Check back for more information.  For questions, please e-mail Dr. Dahl.

The aim of the study is to see if a short term FAP education and supervision improves therapeutic alliance for last term students in the graduate clinical psychology program at Uppsala University in Sweden. The design of the study is a RCT with clinical graduate psychology students (N=30). Half of the students received a 2-day FAP training and one FAP group supervision session (4 students per group) during the time they saw clients.  The other half of the students received a short information day with regard to the study and measurements and the same amount of supervision characterized as reflective listening and supportive therapy.

All 30 students met with one client for four sessions in the both the first and second part of the study (i.e., each student had 2 clients with a total of 8 session for the entire study).  The group that did not receive the FAP training the first time received FAP training and supervision in the second half of the study.

The clients in this study are volunteer students from other departments, mostly recruited from the department of economy and law. The students were told that they were going to speak to last year psychologists on the topic of relationships. There were many volunteers who wanted to participate. Clients were about the same age as our student therapists.

The FAP training was modeled on the FAP workshop given at the FAP summit in Seattle. As all the students had already seen clients (in order to get a baseline) role plays of clients were practiced with the team of five FAP teachers during training. FAP theory, demonstrations, and role plays comprised the 2-day training. Participants met again with clients followed by a FAP supervision session.

The dependent measure was therapeutic alliance, measured using the WAI scale. We will also do some random coding of video tapes of student therapists and their clients.

The study is more than half done now.  We will be done completely by the end of November and able to report the first results during December. The project is the subject of two graduate theses.

Pictures from the FAP Training

      

This is Magnus Johansson who started FAP at our department. He is just finishing his thesis now on ACT treatment of chronic pain but has been involved in everything to do with FAP. He is my student. He is a technical genius as well.

This is Elin Rosenberg to the left and Katarina Wiberg to the right who are the leaders of the FAP projects under my supervision. This will be the basis of both of their thesis. This is the first day of  the FAP education.

      

Magnus and me (Dr. JoAnne Dahl) at the start of the FAP education.

At our department at the start of FAP education: Magnus, JoAnne, and Katarina.

      

Elin and Katarina making last minute preparations for the course.

Magnus reading from the FAP book to the audience to make a  clarification.

      

Katarina, Elin and Thomas

Thomas Parling, a graduate student who has been involved the whole time with FAP and who participated in presenting the FAP education.