Training issues in behavior therapy.

This article addresses training issues in behavior therapy. Methods and skills that are most important for affecting changes in client behavior are identified, and the progress that has been made in demonstrating that these skills can be taught effectively are reviewed. Among the skills discussed are the decision-making skills used to identify problems, to select appropriate interventions, and to evaluate client progress as well as the relationship and technical skills used to implement interventions effectively. A critical goal of professional training is to prepare students to be active learners over the course of their careers. Within this context, issues of quality assurance, the role of broad-based scientific training, and the importance of research on training are examined. The purpose of this article is to address training issues in behavior therapy. We will identify the methods and skills that are most important for affecting changes in client behavior, discuss the progress that has been made in demonstrating that these skills can be taught effectively, and address issues related to training and its evaluation. Because behavior therapy is applied to diverse problems, populations, and settings, it is difficult to