Outcomes of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Interventions Provided by Unlicensed Professionals

Cognitive behavioral interventions are the most widely studied and evidenced-based psychosocial treatment approaches for mental health and health related behavioral problems. Despite their documented efficacy, there is a scarcity of licensed mental health professionals who are available to treat patients with problems that would be amenable to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). While CBT interventions have a strong base in terms of efficacy in randomized trials, effectiveness and dissemination studies are lacking in comparison, and hence, these interventions are not reaching the patients in most need of services. Complicating the problem further, insurance companies typically do not reimburse for services provided by trainees who are not licensed. This is a public mental health problem because it limits the degree to which CBT clinicians can be trained to deliver these treatments, and a particular problem at MGH because referring providers do not have a place to send their patient for CBT services, as trainees constitute a large portion of clinical staff. To address this issue, the current study seeks to document outcomes of CBT interventions delivered by credentialed but not licensed trainees. This information can be used to guide policy and reimbursement guidelines for trainees, as well as promote the ability to disseminate efficacious interventions. Information gained from this project will be used to provide feedback to insurance companies, licensing boards, and mental health community stakeholders regarding decision making re: reimbursement for care provided by supervised trainees. Additionally, this may be used as a pilot study for a comparative effectiveness study comparing trainees to licensed staff psychologists.