Better Results through Deliberate Practice

January 16, 2018 By scottdm 1 Comment

The legendary cellist Pablo Casals was once interviewed by comedian George Carlin. When asked why, at age 93, he continued to practice three hours a day, Casals replied, “I’m beginning to show some improvement!”

Hard not to feel inspired and humbled by such dedication, eh? And while humorous, Casals was not joking. Across a wide variety of domains (e.g., sports, computer programming, teaching), deliberate practice leads to better results. Indeed, our recent study of mental health practitioners documented a growth in effectiveness consistent with performance improvements obtained by elite atheletes.

The January issue of the APA monitor includes a detailed article on the subject. Staff writer Tori DeAngelis lays out the process of applying deliberate practice strategies to clinical work in clear, step-by-step terms. Best of all, it’s free–even continuing education credits are available if you need them.

As mentioned in the article, each summer the International Center for Clincal Excellence sponsors a two-day, intensive training on deliberate practice for therapists. Daryl Chow, Ph.D. and I will be teaching together, presenting the latest scientific and practical information from our forthcoming book, Better Results: Using Deliberate Practice to Improve Therapeutic Effectiveness (APA, 2019).

As in prior years, we promise you will be participating in an intimate, cutting-edge, and highly-personalized learning experience. Many practitioners return to year after year. “I’ve attended the Deliberate Practice Intensive for three years in a row,” says therapist Jim Reynolds, “because there is such a warm camraderie. We are all trying to do the best we can with our clients, but we go beyond that. To do that, I need contact with others who are striving to do better.”

Until next time,

Scott

Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.

More Deliberate Practice Resources…

May 30, 2017 By scottdm 1 Comment

Last week, I blogged about a free, online resource aimed at helping therapists improve their outcomes via deliberate practice. As the web-based system was doubling as a randomized controlled trial (RCT), participants would not only be accessing a cutting-edge, evidence-based protocol but also contributing to the field’s growing knowledge in this area.

To say interest was high, doesn’t even come close. Within 45 minutes of the first social media blast, every available spot was filled–including those on the waiting list! Lead researchers Daryl Chow and Sharon Lu managed to open a few additional spots, and yet demand still far exceeded supply.

I soon started getting emails. Their content was strikingly similar–like the one I received from Kathy Hardie-Williams, an MFT from Forest Grove, Oregon, “I’m interested in deliberate practice! Are there other materials, measures, tools that I can access and start using in my practice?”

The answer is, “YES!” Here they are:

Resource #1. Written for practicing therapists, supervisors, and supervisees, this volume brings together leading researchers and supervisors to teach practical methods for using deliberate practice to improve the effectiveness of psychotherapy.

Written for practicing therapists, supervisors, and supervisees, this volume brings together leading researchers and supervisors to teach practical methods for using deliberate practice to improve the effectiveness of psychotherapy.

Twelve chapters split into four sections covering: (1) the science of expertise and professional development; (2) practical, evidence-based methods for tracking individual performance; (3) step-by-step applications for integrating deliberate practice into clinical practice and supervision; and (4) recommendations for making psychotherapist expertise development routine and expected.

“This book offers a challenge and a roadmap for addressing a fundamental issue in mental health: How can therapists improve and become experts? Our goal,” the editors of this new volume state, ” is to bring the science of expertise to the field of mental health. We do this by proposing a model for using the ‘Cycle of Excellence’ throughout therapists’ careers, from supervised training to independent practice.”

The book is due out June 1st. Order today by clicking here: The Cycle of Excellence: Using Deliberate Practice to Improve Supervision and Training

Resource #2: The MyOutcomes E-Learning Platform

The folks at MyOutcomes have just added a new module on deliberate practice to their already extensive e-learning platform. The information is cutting edge, and the production values simply fantastic. More, MyOutcomes is offering free access to the system for the first 25 people who email to support@myoutcomes.com. Put the words, “Responding to Scott’s Blogpost” in the subject line. Meanwhile, here’s a taste of the course:

Resource #3:

Last but not least, the FIT Professional Development Intensive. There simply is no better way to learn about deliberate practice than to attend the upcoming intensive in Chicago. It’s the only such training available. Together with my colleague, Tony Rousmaniere–author of the new book, Deliberate Practice for Psychotherapists: A Guide to Improving Clinical Effectiveness, we will help you develop an individualized plan for improving your effectiveness based on the latest scientific evidence on expert performance.

We’ve got a few spaces left. Those already registered are coming from spots all around globe, so you’ll be in good company. Click here to register today!

OK, that’s it for now. Wishing you all the best for the Summer,

Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.

Can you tell me what I’m supposed to do? A free deliberate practice resource

May 17, 2017 By scottdm 5 Comments

You’ve read the studies. Maybe you’ve even attended a training.

Deliberate practice is the key to improving your effectiveness as a psychotherapist. Top performing therapists devote twice as much time to the process. More, when employed purposefully and mindfully, the outcomes of average practitioners steadily rise over time.

But what exactly is a therapist supposed to practice in order to improve? It’s a question that comes up within minutes of introducing the subject at my workshops–one my colleagues, Daryl Chow, Sharon Lu, Geoffrey Tan, and I have been working on answering.

Just over three years ago, we published preliminary results of a study documenting the impact of individualized feedback and rehearsal on mastering difficult conversations in psychotherapy. Therapists not only improved their ability to respond empathically under especially challenging circumstances, but were able to generalize what they learned to new and different situations.

Now, the entire deliberate practice program has gone online. In light of the research, it’s been both expanded and refined. There’s no need to leave the comfort of your home or office and, best of all, it’s free.

Sign up to participate and you will learn what to practice as well as receive feedback specifically tailored to your professional development. You will also be helping the field as the program is part of a research study on deliberate practice.

****UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!****

Response to the above post has been overwhelming! Despite the size of the study, all of the available spots filled within 45 minutes. I’ve been corresponding with the chief researcher, Daryl Chow, Ph.D.. He tells me 15 more spots have just been added. If you want to participate, click here. The password is: DCT. If all of the spots are taken, please add your name to the wait list.

One more opportunity: join me in Chicago for the upcoming two-day intensive on deliberate practice. For more information or to register, click on the icon below my name. As with the online program, we are nearly full, so register today.

Until next time,

Scott

Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.
Director, International Center for Clinical Excellence