Bridging the Research-Practice Gap in Psychotherapy Training: Qualitative Analysis of Master's Students' Experiences in a Student-Led Research and Practice Team (original) (raw)

Therapists as Research Practitioners Research. Report, research so far

There is an increased emphasis on research in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. Previous studies* suggest however a strained relationship between psychotherapy research and psychotherapy practice, with therapists often mentioned at the margins of the research community. The TRP group has developed in response to this critique, focusing on opportunities for psychotherapists and counselling psychologists to develop into confident research practitioners. An overarching aim of the group is to contribute to a deeper understanding of how therapists experience the transition from therapists to researchers. What are the opportunities and obstacles, personally, professionally, and academically? The TRP aims to enhance research training for counsellors, psychotherapists, and counselling psychologists by providing learning and professional development events, supporting research and best-practice developments, and making policy recommendations to promote effective and sustainable research training for therapists. This is a report of completed research so far.

Perceptions of psychotherapy trainees of psychotherapy research

Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2012

Aims: The research-practice gap and lack of engagement with research by trainees and qualified therapists is a widely discussed issue amongst psychotherapy researchers. The present study investigates the perceptions of psychotherapy trainees of psychotherapy research and explores what would encourage them to participate in research. Method: Two focus groups of 16 trainees in total were conducted at two separate psychotherapy training institutes to explore trainees' attitudes and perceptions. Data was analysed using Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis. Results: Three superordinate themes emerged: negative perception of research; recognition of the importance of research; and what would be needed to facilitate engagement in research. Discussion: The results suggest that interest in and willingness to participate in research exists, however it is necessary for negative perceptions about research to be addressed and for researchers to design projects which are supportive of participants.

Embracing the Art and Science of Counselling and Psychotherapy in Research

This virtual Research Methods edition of Counselling and Psychotherapy Research invites readers to consider and discuss the issue of therapist-researchers' 'epistemological home(s)'. What do we hold as 'true' and how do we generate knowledge about that? Therapy research has evolved in a multitude of directions since Freud's case study research. It is multifaceted and an ever-developing field, frequently positioned between art and science. As such, right from its conception, the CPR journal has adopted a broad view on research. It supports therapists to develop as researchers in a space between art and science where embodied, emotional and socio-cultural sources of knowledge are combined with evidencebased, scientific interests. John McLeod, in the first edition of the journal noted that the CPR aimed "to demystify research and inquiry, to realign research and practice, and basically to make it interesting and relevant" (McLeod, 2006, p.10). True to this aim, we note how at the time of us starting this issue in spring 2022, the content of CPR covers a broad range of topics including therapy and humour, the use of intuition, consideration of environmental concerns and the consequences of working with facial masks in response to the pandemic. Methodologically, it covers both quantitative and qualitative research approaches ranging from phenomenology, grounded theory, narrative research to cross-sectional and outcome research-based studies Being positioned between art and science can be both an asset and a hindrance. Some of our own studies into 'therapists as research-informed practitioners' highlighted, for instance, a sense of 'homelessness' and lack of belonging among other disciplines. One of the doctoral research students in our research (Bager-Charleson, 2021) said for instance: "When I think of research, I associate it with feeling lonely, the largest upset is to not find research which reflects what I work with. Being a psychotherapist can feel like being a second-class citizen in the NHS. Cognitive, neuro, biological, outcome measures-there's a whole bunch of people I can contact and speak to. But I'm not working within those approaches … I struggle with the idea that emotions are measurable" (Bager-Charleson & McBeath 2021, p.556). References are often made to a strained relationship between psychotherapy research and psychotherapy practice, with therapists mentioning that they feel like they are at the margins of the research community. Our studies conducted under the umbrella of Therapists as Research-informed Practitioners (see more: https://metanoia.ac.uk/research/research-groups-events/therapists-as-research

Therapists as Research-informed Practitioners (TRP) Metanoia Institute, London

Bridging the Research-Practice Gap in Psychotherapy Training: Qualitative Analysis of Master's Students' Experiences in a Student-Led Research and Practice Team (original) (raw)

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