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Doing Practice-based Research in Therapy
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Doing Practice-based Research in Therapy
A Reflexive Approach



February 2014 | 216 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Learning how to use critical self-reflection creatively when practising therapy is an important component of training. This level of self-awareness is, however, often neglected in research, despite the centrality of the researcher to their work.  

Doing Practice-based Research in Therapy: A Reflexive Approach makes the vital link between practical research skills and self-awareness, critical reflection and personal development in practice-based research. Starting with a clear introduction to the theory, practice and debates surrounding this type of research, the book then guides the reader step-by-step through the practicalities of the research process, encouraging them to reflect upon and evaluate their practice at each stage.

The book:

- incorporates case studies throughout to illustrate different methodological approaches

- uses real life examples from students conducting practice-based psychotherapy research

- includes exercises, chapter objectives, end-of-chapter questions and suggestions for further reading to help consolidate learning

- encourages ongoing personal development by introducing personal development planning (PDP) and lifelong learning in the field of research.

By demystifying the reflexive approach, this highly practical guide ensures that trainees and qualified therapists get the most, both professionally and personally, from their practice-based research.

 
Real-life research
 
Personal Development
 
A cross-disciplinary and multi-method approach of multilingualism in psychotherapy, by Jean-Marc Dewaele & Beverley Costa
 
What is evidence-based research?
 
Formulating the research question
 
Doing Your Literature Review, by Simon du Plock
 
Considering Ethics
 
The researcher as a person
 
Epistemology and methodology,
 
What is reflexivity?
 
Reflexivity on introspection
 
Reflexivity as intersubjective reflection
 
Reflexivity as mutual collaboration
 
Making an Impact, by Simon du Plock
 
Concluding remarks

The book is very well structured and it could be used by a wide audience, at different levels of experience and expertise.

Dr Biljana van Rijn
Head of Clinical and Research Services, Metanoia Institute

Practice-based research is not well understood in the general social science research literature and this text will make a distinct contribution.

Jeannie Wright
Director of Counselling and Psychotherapy programmes at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of Warwick

The real strength of the book lies in its evident grounding in ongoing and current research practice, frequently quoting from, or giving live examples of, students’ work, such as the personal impact of going through a professional complaint or evaluating a voluntary sector agency providing school-based therapy. Hence the chapter on formulating a research question, often the key struggle for beginning researchers, gives a range of real-life examples which will be valuable to most readers. 

Peter Jenkins - Senior Lecturer in Counselling at the University of Manchester
Contemporary Psychotherapy

Like Bager-Charleson, I come from a position that holds that all practitioners are knowledge creators, that every counselling session is potentially a source of new and important knowledge. However, as this book recognises, the professions of counselling and psychotherapy have struggled with finding methods of research that generate new ????knowledge to inform a developing profession while honouring its deeply subjective dimensions. This book sets out to demystify research, and to correct the profession?’s somewhat uncritical adoption of positivist methods of gathering evidence without due reference to the complex subjectivity of the researcher. It seeks to offer practitioners a perspective that allows them to appreciate the potential of a research approach that acknowledges and explores the messiness of everyday practice... ??I came to this book with high hopes and expectations stemming from my own struggles as a practitioner-researcher who also teaches research methods for guidance counsellors. I had hoped to find in this book a resource for helping me to think creatively about possibilities for methods congruent with the reflexive nature of psychotherapy. Though not without flaws, this book has easily met those expectations.?????

Dr David McCormack
British Journal of Guidance & Counselling

This is one of the best textbooks I have read which explains the reflexive process in research. I have recommended it to my final year qualitative research students.

Dr Jeannette Roddy
Psychology, Sunderland University
December 14, 2016

this text is invaluable in scaffolding the research activity of students who are attempting to structure critical inquiry into their own practice.

Mr Gerry Myers
Dept of Education & Professional Studies, University of Limerick
June 28, 2016

Highly appropriate for students learning about and developing approaches to practice-based research.

Mrs denise hardy
Dept of Counselling, Redcar & Cleveland College
November 16, 2015

A dynamic and stimulating book, which encourages practising therapists and trainees to reflect on and draw upon their own practice. Case studies and activities throughout the book make this an energetic exploration and help to dispel fears and phobias around research! The focus on the self-awareness of the individual practitioner and the stories cited help us to understand the relevance of research to ourselves.

Ms Helene Baker
counse, City Lit
September 14, 2015

This book provides an excellent introduction to counselling research. The book is suitable for Foundation Degree and BSc level study. It covers all the essential subjects of doing counselling research

Mrs Nicola Grass
Dept of Care and Early Years, Weston College
September 10, 2014

This will be a helpful resources for students in MA year

Miss Myriam Clancy
Social & General Studies Department, Cork Institute of Technology
April 30, 2014

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter One: Real-life Research