Season 3 Episode 3: "Better Therapist Training & Supervision" with Louis Castonguay, Ph.D.

In this episode, Bruce sits down with Dr. Louis Castonguay from Pennsylvania State University to delve into the evolution and current state of psychotherapist training and education. The discussion covers a broad range of topics, from the risks of holding rigidly to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in training programs to the importance of intellectual humility and the diminishing focus on foundational psychotherapy skills. Dr. Castonguay argues for an integrated training model that emphasizes trans-theoretical skills and exposing trainees to a wider range of theoretical orientations and perspectives, perhaps especially in programs that will still primarily focus on CBT. The episode also touches on the broader social and existential relevance of psychotherapy in today’s complex world. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of psychotherapist training and supervision.

Dr. Louis Castonguay was awarded the Lifetime Contribution Award by the Society for Psychotherapy Research and is the author of numerous books including “How and Why Are Some Therapists Better Than Others?: Understanding Therapist Effects.”

Dr. Bruce Wampold, your host, is one of the most prominent psychotherapy researchers alive today and has co-authored the hugely influential books on this topic: “The Great Psychotherapy Debate: The Evidence for What Makes Psychotherapy Work” and the newest edition of “Persuasion and Healing: A Comparative Study of Psychotherapy.”