Should We Stop Badmouthing Evidence Based Practice? An interview with Jessica Tappana, LCSW

Curt and Katie interview Jessica Tappana, LCSW about evidence-based practices (EBPs). We talk about what EBPs actually are and how to implement them in clinically sound and ethical ways. We look at what therapists usually get wrong about EBPs and what they can do to improve their practice.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how Evidence Based Practices work in the real world

Jessica is a long-time listener of the show and a good friend of ours and has been talking with us about how we have spent too much time bad-mouthing EBPs. We decided it would be good to hash out the ideas around “manualized treatment” and how you can actually bring yourself as a clinician into the work, even when using these interventions that are backed by science.

What are Evidence-Based Practices?

·      Using well-researched interventions

·      Using the expertise of the clinician

·      Understanding the needs of the clients

What should therapists know about evidence-based practice?

·      There is room to implement EBP without full adherence

·      Contrasting “eclectic” from “meeting a client where they are” and pulling from other evidence-based interventions

·      The ways that EBPs are trained and studied (due to funding sources) lead to strict adherence

·      How you teach or implement the EBP can be unique to the clinicians

·      Contrasting fidelity of the model with adherence to model

·      You can bring yourself as a therapist into the room AND provide evidence-based interventions

·      Training and supervision is more challenging when you are not seeking strict adherence

·      It’s important to have time to practice therapy outside of sessions with clients

What data or assessments should therapists use with Evidence Based Practices?

·      Feedback informed care (e.g., FIT)

·      Assessments of depression or anxiety consistently to see progress

·      Screening tools and measurement to track progress

·      It is important for clinicians to believe in and use the data collection

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