A Mixed Methods Examination of Session Planning Among Public Mental Health Therapists

Session planning is a core activity for implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs), yet it is unknown whether public mental health settings provide the support for therapists to session plan. This two-part study conducted in collaboration with EBP leaders in Philadelphia’s public mental health system deployed mixed methods to examine therapists’ session planning practices and preferences. In Study 1, 61 public mental health therapists completed an online survey to identify session planning barriers and facilitators, current practices, and desired planning supports. In Study 2, nine therapists who ranked a session planning tool as a top choice support in Study 1 participated in two focus groups to elaborate on their survey responses and provide feedback on three session planning tool prototypes. Study 1 survey respondents cited multi-level barriers and facilitators to session planning. In both closed- and open-ended responses, analyzed descriptively and via content analysis respectively, therapists described wanting more time, lower caseloads, financial incentives for session planning, and additional clinical resources and guidance from trainings, peers, and supervisors to support session planning. Study 2 focus group participants, whose responses were analyzed using content analysis, reiterated the need for these multi-level supports and expressed the need for a “one-stop” database of session planning tools that would be free, easily searchable, and modifiable for varied clinical needs. All three session planning tool prototypes reviewed were acceptable; two were also considered feasible and appropriate. This investigation of an under-studied aspect of the EBP implementation process reveals the need for multi-level session planning supports.