Technology and psychotherapy training.

Abstract

T echnology has had a significant role in the advancement of psychotherapy from its earliest stages of development as a practice (Newman, 2004). In this chapter, we describe several innovations in technology that may help trainers and supervisors enhance their approach to psychotherapy training. We begin by describing the role of technology as well as the rationale for why technology may be one solution for some of the challenges inherent in psychotherapy training. Yet, before we proceed, we want to be transparent about our connections to the technology that we are describing. We feel that it is important to do so to demonstrate that this chapter is not a "spin" or "sales-pitch." Rather, we believe in the promise of technology in assisting psychotherapy and training. Some of the authors are cofounders of, vested in, or consultants with some of the companies described in the chapter. 1 THE CHALLENGES OF TRADITIONAL SUPERVISION AND TRAININGThe challenges associated with the collection of objective data on trainees' performance and development have historically interfered with supervisors' ability to facilitate trainees' professional growth. Traditional psychotherapy training and supervision (i.e., unsupported by technology) primarily relied on trainees' subjective, retrospective reporting of what they deemed to be