Panel Discussion 41 - Thinking Outside of the “therapy Box”: Disruptive Innovations for Supporting CBT Dissemination

We are in the midst of a mental health crisis in the US, with a lack of qualified therapists to provide treatments. There is a need for researchers and clinicians to think outside of the box to disseminate evidence-based therapies. “Disruptive Innovation” is a term from business for when a new company enters a field and provides a service with fewer resources, thereby creating change in the market (Friedberg et al., 2018). When successful, it simplifies services to increase access for consumers. “Non-therapy” psychotherapeutic interventions (e.g., bibliotherapy, brief skills-based videos, etc) can act as disruptive innovations, as they are simple, affordable, and able to positively impact mental health (e.g., Cuijpers et al., 2010; Rizvi et al., 2022; Marss, 1995). While individuals might not gain as much as they would from a full course of therapy, these innovative methods can provide psychoeducation and evidence-based techniques to people who do not necessarily require or cannot easily access traditional therapy.
This panel will provide a forum for discussion of potential disruptive innovations to CBT, DBT, and evidence-based practices. Panelists include psychologists who have hosted podcasts, developed web-based resources for underserved communities, written self-help books, created card games, gone viral on TikTok, appeared on TV, worked with mental health apps, and more. Panelists include psychologists of diverse genders, races, and cultural identities who will discuss challenges in non-traditional dissemination, as well as how their efforts have positively impacted their personal and professional lives. Data and analytic strategies for examining their work will be provided when possible. 
Attendees will gain a greater understanding of how psychologists can use disruptive innovations to challenge misinformation about EBTs, and spread effective interventions to those who may not otherwise benefit from them due to lack of mental health literacy, access, cost, or stigma. Attendees will learn about how these non-traditional dissemination strategies pose a unique opportunity to open doors to engage marginalized and underserved communities.