Definition and Criteria for the Assessment of Expertise in Psychotherapy: Development of the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ)
Therapist expertise is a complex, multifaceted, and continually evolving concept. Defining this construct and its constituent components can yield a substantial contribution to the field of psychotherapy, consequently enhancing the comprehension of the fundamental factors that underlie its effective...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/13/11/173 |
| _version_ | 1797459556576526336 |
|---|---|
| author | Alessio Gori Eleonora Topino Marco Cacioppo Adriano Schimmenti Vincenzo Caretti |
| author_facet | Alessio Gori Eleonora Topino Marco Cacioppo Adriano Schimmenti Vincenzo Caretti |
| author_sort | Alessio Gori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Therapist expertise is a complex, multifaceted, and continually evolving concept. Defining this construct and its constituent components can yield a substantial contribution to the field of psychotherapy, consequently enhancing the comprehension of the fundamental factors that underlie its effectiveness. Within this framework, the present research aimed at developing and assessing the psychometric properties of the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ), a self-report measure to assess therapist expertise. A sample of 260 psychotherapists of various theoretical orientations were involved in this research. They completed a survey that included the PEQ as well as other self-reported measures aimed at evaluating personality traits, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and insight orientation. The analysis provided evidence of a good fit for both a correlational model with eight factors and a higher-order model, where the eight subdimensions were grouped into subjective (performance; cognitive functioning; personal and relational qualities of the therapist; therapist self-assessment) and objective (experience; reputation with clients and colleagues; training and professional updating; deontological ethics and setting rules) factors. The eight dimensions, two higher-order factors, and total score all showed excellent levels of internal consistency. Furthermore, significant associations were found between PEQ scores and insight orientation, general self-efficacy, self-esteem, personality traits, and time exercising clinical practice. To conclude, the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ) is a valuable, theoretically guided, and psychometrically robust self-report measure designed to assess therapist expertise and its constitutive dimensions. This measure can have practical applications in guiding tailored training and customised supervision. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:53:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc96c4a7825d4df9821ce04a7387a68d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2174-8144 2254-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:53:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc96c4a7825d4df9821ce04a7387a68d2023-11-24T14:38:53ZengMDPI AGEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education2174-81442254-96252023-11-0113112478249710.3390/ejihpe13110173Definition and Criteria for the Assessment of Expertise in Psychotherapy: Development of the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ)Alessio Gori0Eleonora Topino1Marco Cacioppo2Adriano Schimmenti3Vincenzo Caretti4Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi 12, Pad. 26, 50135 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences, LUMSA University of Rome, Via della Traspontina 21, 00193 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences, LUMSA University of Rome, Via della Traspontina 21, 00193 Rome, ItalyFaculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE—Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences, LUMSA University of Rome, Via della Traspontina 21, 00193 Rome, ItalyTherapist expertise is a complex, multifaceted, and continually evolving concept. Defining this construct and its constituent components can yield a substantial contribution to the field of psychotherapy, consequently enhancing the comprehension of the fundamental factors that underlie its effectiveness. Within this framework, the present research aimed at developing and assessing the psychometric properties of the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ), a self-report measure to assess therapist expertise. A sample of 260 psychotherapists of various theoretical orientations were involved in this research. They completed a survey that included the PEQ as well as other self-reported measures aimed at evaluating personality traits, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and insight orientation. The analysis provided evidence of a good fit for both a correlational model with eight factors and a higher-order model, where the eight subdimensions were grouped into subjective (performance; cognitive functioning; personal and relational qualities of the therapist; therapist self-assessment) and objective (experience; reputation with clients and colleagues; training and professional updating; deontological ethics and setting rules) factors. The eight dimensions, two higher-order factors, and total score all showed excellent levels of internal consistency. Furthermore, significant associations were found between PEQ scores and insight orientation, general self-efficacy, self-esteem, personality traits, and time exercising clinical practice. To conclude, the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ) is a valuable, theoretically guided, and psychometrically robust self-report measure designed to assess therapist expertise and its constitutive dimensions. This measure can have practical applications in guiding tailored training and customised supervision.https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/13/11/173therapist expertiseprofessional competencetherapeutic efficacytherapist skillstrainingsupervision |
| spellingShingle | Alessio Gori Eleonora Topino Marco Cacioppo Adriano Schimmenti Vincenzo Caretti Definition and Criteria for the Assessment of Expertise in Psychotherapy: Development of the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ) European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education therapist expertise professional competence therapeutic efficacy therapist skills training supervision |
| title | Definition and Criteria for the Assessment of Expertise in Psychotherapy: Development of the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ) |
| title_full | Definition and Criteria for the Assessment of Expertise in Psychotherapy: Development of the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ) |
| title_fullStr | Definition and Criteria for the Assessment of Expertise in Psychotherapy: Development of the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Definition and Criteria for the Assessment of Expertise in Psychotherapy: Development of the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ) |
| title_short | Definition and Criteria for the Assessment of Expertise in Psychotherapy: Development of the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ) |
| title_sort | definition and criteria for the assessment of expertise in psychotherapy development of the psychotherapy expertise questionnaire peq |
| topic | therapist expertise professional competence therapeutic efficacy therapist skills training supervision |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/13/11/173 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alessiogori definitionandcriteriafortheassessmentofexpertiseinpsychotherapydevelopmentofthepsychotherapyexpertisequestionnairepeq AT eleonoratopino definitionandcriteriafortheassessmentofexpertiseinpsychotherapydevelopmentofthepsychotherapyexpertisequestionnairepeq AT marcocacioppo definitionandcriteriafortheassessmentofexpertiseinpsychotherapydevelopmentofthepsychotherapyexpertisequestionnairepeq AT adrianoschimmenti definitionandcriteriafortheassessmentofexpertiseinpsychotherapydevelopmentofthepsychotherapyexpertisequestionnairepeq AT vincenzocaretti definitionandcriteriafortheassessmentofexpertiseinpsychotherapydevelopmentofthepsychotherapyexpertisequestionnairepeq |