What works for psychological interventions designed to increase wellbeing in psychological therapy trainees? A systematic review
The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice
ISSN: 1755-6228
Article publication date: 17 December 2024
Issue publication date: 8 January 2025
Abstract
Purpose
This systematic review aims to identify what works for psychological interventions or teaching strategies designed to improve wellbeing in psychological therapy trainees (PTTs).
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic review was conducted in keeping with best-practice guidelines. The protocol for the review was registered prospectively on PROSPERO.
Findings
Seventy studies were included in the review. The balance of evidence across quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies cautiously suggests that interventions designed to improve PTT wellbeing may be of value. Novel findings regarding barriers and facilitators of successful intervention were identified. Particularly notable in this regard was the finding that providing trainees with a degree of choice or control over elements of the intervention appeared to be an important facilitator of success. Importantly, however, the review identified a number of methodological weaknesses in the literature, undermining the certainty of findings. More high-quality research is needed to answer the questions of the review decisively.
Practical implications
Evidence tentatively suggests that interventions to support trainee wellbeing are often received well by trainees and are frequently perceived by trainees as beneficial. Providing trainees with some degree of choice or control regarding how to engage with wellbeing interventions during training may be important.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first review to systematically identify and synthesise findings on this important topic.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration East of England (NIHR ARC EoE) at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Citation
Owen, J., Biggart, L., Fisher, P., Figueredo, A., Al-Rousi, S., Colvin-Jarvis, J., Williamson, E. and Sanderson, K. (2025), "What works for psychological interventions designed to increase wellbeing in psychological therapy trainees? A systematic review", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 45-60. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-01-2024-0009
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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