Practitioners seem quicker to adopt new techniques than researchers or faculty a

Question

Practitioners seem quicker to adopt new techniques than researchers or faculty are to recommend them. For example, many practitioners have embraced procedures for using Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) but few graduate programs in mental health incorporate training in such techniques in their curriculum. Practitioners seem to rely on the clinical experience of colleagues and their own professional intuition about which techniques to use more than they rely on the research literature, which, in the case of EMDR, is not entirely supportive of its effectiveness. How strongly do you think clinical experience of colleagues should be weighed in determining whether a technique should be used with clients? Should practitioners wait for more formal research studies prior to using such techniques? What would be the advantage or disadvantage of postponing their use?

Explanation / Answer

I believe that clinical experience should be used to weigh decisions with respect to the usage of specific techniques with clients but only to a limited degree. Clinical experience is subjective and involves the perspective of only a single individual whereas the research studies investigate a good sample size in order to draw a meaningful conclusion. In order to ensure ethical practice of one’s profession, it is essential that best scientific practices are utilised rather than those that are based on hearsay.

It is therefore worthwhile for practitioners to spend some time waiting for formal research studies to prove the efficacy of such techniques, and in the meanwhile utilise existing techniques supported by empirical data. The immediate advantage of this that patients are guaranteed to exposed to treatment techniques that have scientific validity which would improve their chances of recovery. However, the waiting period maybe quite long and if the technique was infact proven to be highly effective, many patients would end up losing the chance to receive it.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse P
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.