Behavioural Psychotherapists in Practice: A Survey of UK Practitioners

Abstract

A questionnaire survey of a random sample of the members of the BABP (N = 191) served to clarify the relationship between research and practice in behavioural psychotherapy in the UK. The predicted gap between research and practice was only obtained in one of eight targeted areas, i.e. training. Overall, this indicated that behavioural practitioners were conforming to the standards set out in behavioural research. However, as the research standards were not challenging, it is argued that theory provides a better benchmark against which to judge practice. This leads to the view that considerable progress remains to be made, particularly in terms of becoming more environmental in the formulation and treatment of problems, and in becoming more objective and systematic in measuring such problems. Developments in the analysis of practitioner behaviour should, it is suggested, form the basis of more effective training and contingency management, in relation to behavioural practice.