BEHAVIORAL PSYCHOTHERAPISTS IN PRACTICE - A SURVEY OF UK PRACTITIONERS

A questionnaire survey of a random sample of the members of the BABP ( N = 191) served to clarify the relationship between research and pract ice in behavioral psychotherapy in the UK. The predicted gap between r esearch 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. How ever, as the research standards were not challenging, it is argued tha t 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 formulatio n and treatment of problems, and in becoming more objective and system atic in measuring such problems. Developments in the analysis of pract itioner behaviour should, it is suggested, form the basis of more effe ctive training and contingency management, in relation to behavioural practice.