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Evaluation ViewAttendees 10

Panel Discussions

Professional/ Interprofessional Issues

Enhancing Therapeutic Skillfulness, Well-Being, and Care through Consultation Groups: Best Practices and Considerations

Panel Discussion 18 - Enhancing Therapeutic Skillfulness, Well-being, and Care Through Consultation Groups: Best Practices and Considerations

Saturday, November 22, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM CST
Location: Empire C, Level 2
Earn 1.5 Credit
Keywords: Professional Issues, Supervision, Evidence-Based Practice
Recommended Readings: Beidas, R. S., Edmunds, J. M., Marcus, S. C., & Kendall, P. C. (2012). Training and consultation to promote implementation of an empirically supported treatment: A randomized trial. Psychiatric Services, 63(7), 660-665. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8174802/,   Calloway, A., & Creed, T. A. (2022). Enhancing CBT consultation with multicultural counseling principles. Cognitive and behavioral practice, 29(4), 787-795.,   Falender, C. A., & Shafranske, E. P., Eds. (2019). Consultation in psychology: A competency-based approach (pp. viii-344). Washington: American Psychological Association. Sample: https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/Falender-Consultation-in-Psychology-Sample.pdf,   ,  
Consultation is a key component of clinical practice. Consultation groups (CGs) enhance therapists’ proficiency in applying evidence-based CBT protocols and techniques, addressing a critical gap in professional development post-training. Implementation studies highlight CGs’ role in improving therapy quality, clinician skillfulness, and adherence to CBT principles (Beidas et al., 2012; Frank et al., 2020; Schoenwald et al., 2004), underscoring their value in clinical practice. Beyond skill enhancement, CGs provide essential opportunities for peer support, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Our panel examines the structure, benefits, and challenges of CGs, bringing together participants with extensive experience in leading and participating in evidence-based groups. With backgrounds in implementation science, teaching, and clinical work, panelists will offer insights into how CGs function and how they can be optimized. Topics include CG variations, strategies for creating and sustaining CGs, their role in professional growth and large-scale implementation, and considerations related to diversity, equity, and ethics (see Calloway & Creed, 2022).

Discussion will compare CGs across cognitive and behavioral orientations (e.g., CBT, MI, ERP, ACT, DBT), highlighting best practices for group composition, facilitation, and integration of diverse perspectives. This conversation aligns with ABCT’s mission by promoting the scientific, ethical, and inclusive delivery of behavioral and cognitive therapies, enhancing patient care through peer support and collaborative learning, and addressing an area where formal guidance remains limited.

Panelists have led and actively participated in numerous CGs devoted to empirically supported treatments across clinical practice, research trials, and implementation projects. Their experience spans CGs oriented around CBT, ERP, PE, CPT, ACT, and DBT, ensuring this discussion provides valuable insights into leveraging CGs for professional development, improving patient outcomes, and advancing ABCT’s mission of ethical, science-based intervention delivery.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Explain the role and impact of consultation groups (CGs) in enhancing therapists' proficiency with evidence-based CBT techniques.
  2. Identify the benefits and considerations for the structure and characteristics of evidence-based CGs.
  3. Explore best practices for group composition, facilitation, and the integration of diverse therapeutic orientations within CGs.
  4. Analyze the importance of diversity, equity, and ethical considerations in the formation and operation of CGs.
  5. Examine strategies for creating, maintaining, and leveraging CGs to improve patient outcomes and advance ethical, science-based intervention.