Do as i say, not as i do: Therapist Evaluation of a Practice and Supervision Aid

Abstract

Interactive software offers the potential to improve the quality of mental health care by promoting skill development, clinical insight, and shared reflection among mental health professionals. However, research on therapists' usage of interactive software has been primarily based in training and mock-clinical settings. In this paper, we present a qualitative study of clinicians' experience using CORE-MI, a collaborative recording and annotation software, in a real-world university counseling center. We describe how and why therapists, both trainees and licensed staff, used CORE-MI to support their practice and improve their skills. We also consider how usage varied with therapists' developmental level and how the software impacted relationships between supervisors and supervisees. Finally, we offer recommendations for future research and design of interactive systems in mental health settings.