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Training, supervision, and credentialing

CBT Training and Supervision: Methods, Models, and Cultural Contexts

2 - (OP10) The Effect of Behavioral Rehearsal in the Training of Psychology Students in Cognitive Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Thursday, June 25, 2026
2:27 PM - 2:48 PM PDT
Location: Yerba Buena Salon 4, B3 Level
Keywords: Training / Training Directors, Anxiety, Cognitive Therapy
Recommended Readings: Ginzburg, D. M., Bohn, C., H¨ ofling, V., Weck, F., Clark, D. M., & Stangier, U. (2012). Treatment specific competence predicts outcome in cognitive therapy for social anxiety disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 50, 747–752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2012.09.001,   ,   ,   ,  


Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of behavioral rehearsal in the training of psychology students in cognitive therapy for social anxiety disorder.

Methods: A total of 94 psychology students in year five of their six-year professional training received a 16-hours course in cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder (CT-SAD; Clark & Wells, 1995). Initially, all students viewed an eight-hour training video in cognitive therapy for social anxiety disorder (Clark & Wells, 1995) presented by one of the developers of the treatment, Professor David Clark. Thereafter the students were randomized to one of two eight-hour training conditions. Condition one comprised of video demonstrations of how to develop a case formulation and carry out a relevant behavioral experiment, as well as engaging in discussions about the learning content. In condition two, the students received skills-training in the form of behavioral rehearsal (i.e., repeated short live demonstrations followed by practicing the same procedure in role-plays two and two). Both conditions were trained by the same two expert clinicians. After the course, students role-played a 45-minute session of CT-SAD which was videotaped and rated with the Cognitive Therapy Competence Scale for Social Phobia (CTCS-SP; Clark, Von Consbruch, Hinrichs & Stangier, 2006). Raters of competence did not know which training condition participants were randomized to.

Results: Excellent interrater reliability was found between an expert scorer and two psychologists who rated 94 videotapes. Participants in the behavioral rehearsal condition achieved higher competence scores compared to the control condition.

Conclusions: Training providers should consider including behavioral rehearsal in training as this may result in higher competence among trainees.

Learning Objectives:

  • Upon completion, participants will have knowledge about an experimental study investigating the effects of including behavioral rehearsals into training courses in cognitive therapy for social anxiety disorder.