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SMART Therapist Training for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders

This study, called "SMART Therapist Training," is looking at different ways to train therapists in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for stress disorders like PTSD. CPT is a type of talk therapy. The goal is to find the best training methods to help therapists stick closely to the CPT guidelines, which can improve how well the therapy works for patients. Researchers are testing various training approaches, including online courses (Web-Based Training), reviewing work samples, and different levels of consultation and self-monitoring. We don't know the current recruitment status, but the study plans to enroll 240 participants. Success will be measured by how well therapists follow and perform CPT, as assessed by the CPT Therapist Adherence and Competence Scale over 12 months. This study is for licensed mental health clinicians or trainees who provide psychotherapy to Veterans.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 240 participants. It uses a hybrid factorial-SMART design to test different training strategies for therapists.
What's involved
Participants will engage in various training interventions, including online courses, weekly hour-long consultations, and self-assessment or audio reviews, over a period of at least six months.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Therapist adherence and competence will be measured at the start, and then at 6, 9, and 12 months.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07010770

SMART Therapist Training: A Hybrid Factorial-SMART Design

Recruiting
NAAges 18+Interventional
VA Office of Research and Development
~240 participants
Updated 2026-07-31 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Web-Based Training (WBT)Work Sample Review (WR)Step down to fidelity self-monitoringStep up to session audio reviewStandard Consultation (SC)Standard Training (ST)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
4 of 4 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
CPT Therapist Adherence and Competence Scale (TAC)
Measured over Baseline (0-months), 6-months, 9-months, and 12-months

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Psychotherapy

Explore related trials

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Where it's being run

4 sites across 4 states
California1
Michigan1
Minnesota1
Ohio1

Study leadership

  • Rebecca Kaufman Sripada, PhD MS · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI

Who to contact

Rebecca K Sripada, PhD MS
[email protected]
(734) 222-7432
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Participants must be licensed mental health clinicians or a mental health trainee in VA service (e.g., practicum students, psychology interns, postdoctoral fellows) whose formal job responsibilities include the provision of psychotherapy services to Veterans on a regular basis
Participants must be able to participate for 9 months.
Participants must work in a setting where CPT may be implemented (12 weekly 60-minute individual sessions or 90-minute group sessions).
Participants must have local/supervisor support to implement CPT and fully participate in all training and consultation activities.
Participating trainees (e.g. psychology interns) on a 6-month training rotation must have permission from their supervisors to continue the study into their next rotation.

Exclusion

Participant is not a licensed mental health clinician
Participant is already certified in CPT

What this trial measures

  • CPT Therapist Adherence and Competence Scale (TAC)Baseline (0-months), 6-months, 9-months, and 12-months

    The TAC measures both adherence to specific unique and essential CPT elements, and competence in delivering these interventions. Adherence is rated on a 3-point Likert-type scale, with 0=incomplete, 1=mostly complete, and 2=fully complete as prescribed in each session. Competence is rated on a 7-point Likert-type scale, from 0=not competent to 6=outstanding competence. Items rated as a "0" on adherence are automatically rated a "0" for competence. Competence scores between 0 and 2 are cases in which the therapist requires "substantial corrective feedback." Scores between 3 and 4 indicate "acceptable to good; opportunities for feedback," such that the therapist performs the intervention well, but has room for improvement. Scores of 5 and 6 require very little to no feedback.