Therapists have been using videotape to enhance psychotherapy training and supervision for decades.  Recent technological advances have allowed for a range of creative new affordable ways to record “picture-in-picture”, so the video shows both the client and therapist.  These setups do not require any video editing.  Below is a list of instructions for picture-in-picture video setups, with links for more information.  If you know of another recording setup, please email me at trousmaniere@yahoo.com, and I’ll add you to this list. 

Updated list also available at:  http://istdpinstitute.com/resources/

1.  I use Wirecast software to combine two digital webcams,  connected to my computer, into one picture-in-picture therapy video.  Psychotherapy videos are stored on the computer and can be burned onto DVDs.  No editing is required.

2.  Nat Kuhn developed a system to video therapy sessions that uses two digital cameras, two DVD recorders and a Picture-in-picture (PIP) video mixer.  Therapy videos are stored on DVDs and no computer is required at all.  He provides very detailed equipment and setup instructions here:  http://natkuhn.com/equipment/equipment.pdf.  

3.  Arno Goudsmit in the Netherlands has developed a psychotherapy recording tool for a 2-camera and computer setup (also adaptable for 1 camera), which gives a picture-in-picture video on an mpg-file.  He uses memory sticks which the patient can take home; and they keep a copy of the psychotherapy video for study purposes.  You can find his software at: http://www.edtmaastricht.nl/2cameras.   His software is free and no video editing is required.

4. Rick Savage is a producer in New York City who has experience helping setup therapy videotaping systems using Apple computers and digital cameras.  He can be reached at 917-364-1866 and
http://www.savagetunes.com.

Related Literature

1.  Allan Abbass, a psychiatrist in Halifax, published “Small-Group Videotape Training for Psychotherapy Skills Development”, and “Web-Conference Supervision for Advanced Psychotherapy Training: A Practical Guide”

2.  Alpert, M. (1996). Videotaping psychotherapy. Journal of Psychotherapy Practice

and Research, 5(2), 93-105. 

3.  “Videotaping and Rating Your Own Sessions: Two Valuable Ways to Improve the Quality of Therapy”

4.  Peter Costello, a media ecologist and clinical psychologist at Adelphi University, wrote  “The Influence of Videotaping on Theory and Technique in Psychotherapy: A Chapter in the Epistemology of Media”

Also:  Jon Frederickson and I have been experimenting with the use of Skype for one-way-mirror supervision.  (From Washington, DC, Jon provided live, one-way-mirror supervision for me working with clients in San Francisco.)  We have had very positive clinical and training outcomes with this new technology.   If you would like setup instructions, email me at trousmaniere@yahoo.com.