https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2024.796
Trauma focused-cognitive behavioral therapy training effectiveness in promoting professional development of psychotherapists working with unaccompanied minors in Greece: a non-blinded randomized control trial
Submitted: May 15, 2024
Accepted: August 22, 2024
Published: August 27, 2024
Accepted: August 22, 2024
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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The need to develop psychotherapists’ skills to respond to current treatment challenges, such as addressing trauma due to the refugee crisis, is increasing. However, there is a dearth of evidencebased training for psychotherapists who work with refugees, especially in frontline countries. A randomly selected sample of 80 clinicians working with unaccompanied minors (UAMs) in Greek accommodation centers nationwide participated in an intensive trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) training (n=44) or a control-group (n=36) and completed the Professional Quality of Life Scale, the Work and Meaning Inventory and a questionnaire to assess knowledge and therapeutic skills, in pre-andpost measurements. Clinicians with 1-3 years of experience with refugees reported higher burnout (p=0.012, M=25.78 vs M=22.04) and secondary traumatic stress than those with less than a year (p=0.014, M=22.03 vs M=18.04). Positive meaning at work increased in both groups at post-test (TF-CBT group: p=0.019, M=15 vs M=13.6, and control group: p<0.001, M=15.17 vs M=13.42). The TF-CBT training group outperformed the control group in knowledge and skills (p=0.021, M=10.15 vs M=8.75) and identified a lower number of children with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (p=0.009, M=6.94 vs M=4.33) post-training. This study provides preliminary evidence on TF-CBT training effectiveness in equipping psychotherapists to work with UAMs, while their professional quality of life warrants further research.
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How to Cite
Yotsidi, V., Anastasiou, T., Doulgeris, K., Theodosiou, P., & Richardson, C. (2024). Trauma focused-cognitive behavioral therapy training effectiveness in promoting professional development of psychotherapists working with unaccompanied minors in Greece: a non-blinded randomized control trial. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 27(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2024.796
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