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PROCEED: A process-based competency assessment method to promote evidence-based dissemination practices (2024-2028)

The aim of this research project is to create and investigate a method for assessing therapist competencies and monitoring competency development in order to promote evidence-based training practices. The project, led by Dr Katariina Keinonen, is funded by the Research Council of Finland.

Key collaborators include professor Stefan G. Hofmann (DE), professor Joseph Ciarrochi (AU) and professor emeritus Martti T. Tuomisto.

More information about the research team and the progress of the research: /fi/hankkeet/proceed

Equine-assisted therapy is a modality of psychotherapeutic care that is currently utilized particularly among children and adolescents. 

Anna-Kaisa Pitkänen's doctoral dissertation research explores the key processes of change in equine-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy for youth. The mixed methods design of the study will focus on the role of physiological and movement synchrony between client, therapist and horse, as well as therapeutic alliance and development of psychological flexibility. The findings of the current work can increase understanding on the effectiveness of equine-assisted therapy and the importance of physiological co-regulation for treatment outcome in animal-assisted psychotherapeutic work. The thesis is supervised by Katariina Keinonen, Miiamaaria Kujala and Martti Tuomisto.

Relationship between male and female prisoners' lifetime experiences of violence and trauma symptoms

The study, carried out in cooperation with the Prison and Probation Service of Finland and the National Institute for Health and Welfare, uses the data from the Prisoners' Health and Well-being 2023 (Wattu-IV) study, which has investigated the health of Finnish prisoners on a broad scale. 

Katja Koskialho's doctoral dissertation research examines male and female prisoners' lifetime experiences of violence and their relationship to current trauma symptoms, under the supervision of Katariina Keinonen, Raimo Lappalainen and Alice Keski-Valkama.

Social cognition assessment, rehabilitation and the link to risk of violence in forensic psychiatric care

Social cognition refers to the functions that enable a person to perceive, understand and regulate information about others and others' relationships to themselves. Such functions include the ability to think about the thoughts and feelings of others and the ability to recognise the different emotions of others. Difficulties in social cognition are now recognised as a core symptom of psychotic disorders. 

Leo Kuutti's doctoral dissertation research project titled "Assessment and Rehabilitation of Social Cognition in Forensic Psychiatric Care and its Association with Risk of Violence" aims to develop assessment methods for evaluating social cognition in Finnish and to further investigate the effectiveness of a metacognitive skills training group. The research project is also intended to provide basic information on the topic of hostility and hasty conclusions. The thesis is supervised by Katariina Keinonen, Raimo Lappalainen and Alice Keski-Valkama.