The progress cascading model: A scalable model for teaching and mentoring graduate trainees in exposure therapy

•There is substantial need for graduate training in exposure based techniques.•A competency based model allows for trainee development with clinician support.•Trainee acceptability and skill acquisition is high with this model.•Training clinics should adopt competency based models for trainee development.

Little has been written as to how clinicians in specialty treatment clinics go about training unlicensed trainees to work with patients with OCD. The University of Florida's OCD (UF OCD) treatment and training program was founded over 20 years ago by Drs. Wayne Goodman and Gary Geffken and has reported treatment response rates above the national average. The success of the program is largely due to a continued emphasis on trainee development through a progressive cascading model of mentorship. Using this competency based model, the UF OCD program focuses on skill acquisition and competency based evaluation through mentoring, collaboration, and co-therapy with clinicians and other trainees. Trainee satisfaction with this model was assessed using qualitative and questionnaire based feedback from trainees whom had completed at least one semester within the training program. Most trainees felt competent in implementing exposure therapy and were satisfied following their training within the program, reporting particular benefit from the co-therapy approach. Recommendations for implementation of this model in graduate training clinics are discussed.

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