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Introducing Counselling and Psychotherapy Research
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Introducing Counselling and Psychotherapy Research

First Edition


December 2012 | 184 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
'An unusually thoughtful, methodical, engaging text tackling essential research issues in an accessible and attractive way' - Colin Feltham Emeritus Professor of Critical Counselling Studies, Sheffield Hallam University.

Introducing Counselling and Psychotherapy Research provides an accessible yet thorough overview of the place that research has in the world of therapy. It introduces the reader to the language of research and helps students to identify themselves as researchers by supporting the development of their research literacy and awareness. Structured around common training topics, the book provides:

- consideration of what research is and why people do it

- discussion of key issues that individuals should consider before embarking on a research project

- an informed overview of common research methodologies and methods

- a reflection upon the need to place ethical mindfulness at the fore of any research project

- advice and information on what you can do with your research once it's complete.

This practical book demystifies research through a model of collaborative and experiential learning, with training exercises, student reflections, further reading, guidance on how to complete a thesis or dissertation, study skills and tips on how to use research supervision and dissemination.

Terry Hanley, Clare Lennie and William West work as directors and lecturers on the Counselling and Counselling Psychology programmes at the University of Manchester.

 
Introduction
 
The Research Underpinning Therapy
 
What Is Research?
 
Preparing for Undertaking Research
 
The Impact of Undertaking Research on the Researcher
 
Quantitative Research: Collecting and Making Sense of Numbers in Therapy Research
 
Qualitative Research: Collecting and Making Sense of Talk, Thoughts and Feelings in Research
 
Ethical Issues in Therapy Research
 
Talking about Research and Dissemination
 
Summary

'The authors of this very personal book seem to have really understood student anxieties about embarking on research. The whole project of getting to grips with research methods is brought alive through examples from the authors' own teaching of research methods. One of the inspired pedagogical methods is the use of debate to get students to articulate their approach and back this up from role played perspectives like that of a service commissioner. The reader is encouraged to adopt a critical stance in relation to the text, throughout, and the 'student voice' is used as a critical commentary.

The process of research is used as a model of collaborative and experiential learning, which makes this book very different from most of the research methods texts already 'out there'. The language of research is used throughout, in order to help students to begin to identify as researchers (e.g. 'your findings'; 'our findings'). This is set to become an essential part of every counselling trainer's reading list, serving as it does to demystify research and set learning through research firmly within counsellor training. My students will read it with relish' -
Bonnie Meekums, PhD,Lecturer in counselling and psychotherapy at University of Leeds


This is an engaging, useful and readable introduction to undertaking research in counselling and psychotherapy...The constant yet subtle introduction of key concepts throughout the text make this a great introduction for those wishing to understand more about why research is important in this field.

Jo Pybis
Research Facilitator at BACP

This was an easy to understand text, especially for students undertaking research for the first time. I particularly liked the suggested activities in the Activity Box sections; I will definitely be incorporating some of these into my class sessions.

Ms Rosie Byrom
Health , Riverside College Halton
February 1, 2016

Recommended highly to our students on masters course - clear and accessible!

Ms Sally Chisholm
Schoolof Psychology, Keele University
November 20, 2015

An accessible text for students learning about research, the relevance of it for counselling and psychotherapy or about to undertake their first research study.
I particularly like the exercises and the reflections of students.

Mrs Gillian Harrison
Dept of Counselling, Cleveland & Redcar College
September 24, 2014

This is an excellent resource for any student contemplating a research project within the field of counselling and psychotherapy. It is a very reader friendly resource and serves to de-mystify some of the methodological jargon that students encounter when embarking upon a research project for the first time. Highly recommended!

Dr Bill Naylor
Development & Society, Sheffield Hallam University
November 21, 2013

helpful supportive text in enabling trainees to understand the role and purpose of research in counselling and psychotherapy. Nicely written and easy to read - engaging text

Dr Kendra Gilbert
Department of psychology, university of east london
October 10, 2013

A good basic text in a much needed area

Ms Carole Smith
Counselor Education , Huddersfield University
October 9, 2013

Did not fit the parameters for this course.

Dr Diane Campbell
Educ Phys Ed Exer Sci Dept, John Carroll University
September 20, 2013

This book offers a very clear overview of relevant issues associated with counselling research. This book would be useful to the novice counselling researcher and has useful tasks throughout the book which help the reader to develop an understanding of their own skills and preferences when undertaking a research project.

Ms Stephanie Revell
Health and Wellbeing, University of Cumbria
July 12, 2013

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SAGE Research Methods is a research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 175,000 pages of SAGE’s renowned book, journal and reference content with truly advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings. Since SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, it can be used across the social sciences, health sciences, and more.

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