In 30 years of reviewing treatment notes I can’t recall seeing a written homework assignment. But these were an integral part of the randomised controlled trials of CBT for depression and the anxiety disorders. Completion of homework has been found to effect outcome see Kazantis et al (2007) Using Homework Assignments in CBT Guilford Press.
According to the NHS workforce report there was a 65% increase in psychological therapists between 2019 and 2024.This expansion has come about despite any plausible evidence that CBT is delivered in routine practice. Looks suspiciously like jobs for the boys! What proportion of the 24,000 members of the British Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (BABCP) would testify to routinely giving clients written homework assignments?
It is worth recapping some of the benefits of a written homework assignment. It is a succinct summary of learning points from the treatment session, it ensures translation from the therapy room to the real-world, it provides continuity between sessions (sessions begin with a review of the set homework), it provides a personalising of therapy. In the absence of a written homework claims of fidelity to a NICE evidence-based treatment do not stand up in ‘court’.
Good to be back
Mike
Comments
10 responses to “Therapy Is Not CBT Without Homework”
Just checking it is working Me
Hi Mike
Just to let you know I found it. I had to click on the date below your post which brought me here so I could reply
Regards
Liz
Great but lots of tech probs
Hi Mike. It’s working but the site still displayed as inactive when I tried to post your article. It showed the first page rather than linking to the article .
Good to see your work going back up online.
Glenna
Thanks Glenna not sure what is happening, not sure what you meant by post and article
Hi Mike. I think it’s sorted itself out now. Will you be posting the articles on social media as usual ?
Hi Mike
I think Glenna means there’s no ‘Share’ option
Regards
Liz
Signed up for Jetpack social, so I assumed this would do the necessary social media wise?
Hi Mike
As requested replying to your email today Sunday 1st June – I’ve shared your main page and if you look at the comments in the link I sent you’ll from Mental Health Action you’ll see I hope that they have commented in support of your work. I’m trying to figure out WordPress myself. Apparently I tried to reply to them on WordPress site where I tried to Subscribe to them but needed to login to WordPress itself. Heyho I’ll figure it out.
Hi Liz
Don’t see Mental Health Action. Maybe I need to go into my site? Thanks for all your support.
Mike