Researching Psychotherapy And Counselling

With an emphasis on do-able research, the book examines the dilemmas and challenges for clinicians in recruiting participants and combining research with clinical practice, and includes step by step guides to doing research projects.

Research is a vital and often daunting component of many counselling and psychotherapy courses. As well as completing their own research projects, trainees across modalities must understand the research in the field – what it tells them and how to do it. Breaking down this seemingly mountainous task into easy to swallow pieces, this book will navigate your students through each stage of the research process, from choosing a research question, through the pros and cons of different methods, to data analysis and writing up their findings. Written by leading contributors from the field including John McLeod, Mick Cooper and Tim Bond, each chapter features points for reflection, engaging activities and suggestions for further reading, helping students to engage with all aspects of research. An original graphic narrative runs throughout the book, bringing this complex topic to life in a unique way. Whether embarking on research for the first time or already a little familiar with research and research methods, this unique guide is something counselling and psychotherapy students will turn to continually throughout their research projects.

The need to show how and why counselling works has led to an explosion of research activity, and a growing focus on research in counselling and psychotherapy teaching and practice. Yet this book, even now in its second edition, stands alone in addressing qualitative research in therapy. Leading expert John McLeod helps readers through each stage of the research process, explaining techniques for gathering data, writing up the study and evaluating the findings. Each qualitative method is clearly described and critically assessed in terms of its own strengths and weaknesses. Examples from actual research studies are given to show how the methods work in practice. This new edition incorporates developments in qualititative research over the last ten years and includes eight new chapters, covering: - interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) - autoethnographic methods - action research - case study methods For all those involved in research - whether as part of academic study or in practice -this book will be essential reading. As an introduction to qualitative methods, it is the perfect course text for all training programmes in counselling, counselling psychology and psychotherapy, and will also be of interest to those who work in areas such as psychiatry, clinical psychology and mental health nursing, or who provide counselling in other professional areas such as teaching, nursing and social work. McLeod is Professor of Counselling, University of Abertay Dundee.

"Timulak′s aims, to clarify research and its value for practice, and to alert people to its ′limitations and potential misuse′, have certainly been achieved. This book deserves a place in every professional library and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in understanding more about research" - Therapy Today, May 2009 ′An authoritative text, providing a first-rate outline of the specific methods that counselling and psychotherapy researchers use, and illustrated through a wealth of examples′ - Professor Mick Cooper, Senior Lecturer in Counselling, University of Strathclyde ′The content is comprehensive and covers the full range of knowledge and information that a trainee psychologist/psychotherapy researcher would want to have... It offers a general overview of psychotherapy research methods and their logic which is not duplicated in any book that I know of′ - Georgia Lepper, Senior Lecturer in Psychotherapy, University of Kent Research in Psychotherapy and Counselling is a guide to methods used in studying the outcomes and processes of therapy. Introducing a range of methodologies which are used internationally, the author describes different research designs and illustrates them through examples of actual studies. Presenting the findings from key studies, he clearly demonstrates the usefulness of the research in therapeutic practice. Research in Psychotherapy and Counselling is ideal for researchers and for students on courses in counselling, psychotherapy, clinical and counselling psychology and psychiatry. Ladislav Timulak is course director of the MSc in Counselling Psychology at Trinity College, Dublin. He previously worked at the University of Trnava, Slovakia, and has extensive practical experience in the field of counselling and psychotherapy, as well as experience in conducting psychotherapy training.

This textbook provides a guide to the development of a rigorous and creative research-supported practice for students, practitioners, and researchers in counselling and psychotherapy. With an emphasis on critical thinking and “research mindedness”, it introduces practical research skills and links them to self-awareness and critical reflection. Learning how to creatively and effectively use oneself in the treatment process is an essential component in therapy training and this level of self-awareness has long been a neglected area in research – until now. With examples ranging from private therapeutic practice to psychiatric related research, each chapter combines ‘how-to-do-it’ advice with illustrative real-life examples. The authors outline the use of a broad range of research methods, embracing Arts- as well as RCT-based research, and covering qualitative, quantitative, pluralistic and mixed methods approaches. Whether you are engaging with research for the first time or already developing your own research projects, if you are a student at diploma level or taking a Postgraduate research course for counsellors, psychotherapists and counselling psychotherapists, this is essential reading for anyone looking for a book that combines self-awareness with analytical and practical skills.

From leading researcher and bestselling author, John McLeod, this new edition of Doing Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy is a book for students and practitioners who wish to undertake a small-scale publishable research study. The focus is on research projects that are appropriate for student and practitioner researchers: qualitative interview-based research, practice-based outcome studies, case studies, and autoethnographic research. These different genres of research provide a grounding in the main approaches used in counselling and psychotherapy research. This accessible and comprehensive ′how to′ guide on conducting a successful research project in counselling and psychotherapy takes you step-by-step through the research journey: initial engagement with the idea of doing research, developing a research question, appreciating the strengths and limitations of both qualitative and quantitative methods, conducting a study, and then finally writing up the findings for potential publication. Supported by a wide range of case examples and points for reflection, as well as extensive on-line resources, this highly practical introduction to research in counselling, psychotherapy and allied disciplines is essential reading for any trainee or practitioner learning about the research process for the first time.

`This is a great starting point for anyone studying or interested in counselling research. I would thoroughly recommend the Second Edition of this book' - Terry Hanley, Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal Doing Counselling Research, Second Edition is a practical and accessible introduction to the research process within counselling and psychotherapy. Written both as a guide to carrying out research, and to using existing findings to inform practice, it provides essential information for all trainees and practitioners. John McLeod guides the reader through the principles and practice of undertaking a successful research project, explaining how to: - review the literature - select appropriate methods (qualitative and quantitative) - collect data - design and implement an effective study plan - evaluate findings. Taking account of developments in research methods, the book has been fully revised and updated and includes new chapters on evidence-based practice and practitioner research. Research literacy is now within the skillset of all counsellors and psychotherapists and, as a practical introduction to the subject, Doing Counselling Research will be indispensable to trainees and practitioners alike.

Many counselling courses have a strong research element built into the modules and students are expected to gain a thorough understanding of research issues early on in their studies. This accessible and practical textbook will demystify research and make it relevant to counselling practice. There are sections on linking clinical practice to research, developing ′curiosity′ and engaging with the data. The book uses clinical practice as a basis for understanding research, and makes connections between the activity of therapy and the research process.