Doing Practice-based Research in Therapy
A Reflexive Approach
- Sofie Bager-Charleson - Metanoia Institute
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.
The book is very well structured and it could be used by a wide audience, at different levels of experience and expertise.
Practice-based research is not well understood in the general social science research literature and this text will make a distinct contribution.
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.
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.?????
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.
this text is invaluable in scaffolding the research activity of students who are attempting to structure critical inquiry into their own practice.
Highly appropriate for students learning about and developing approaches to practice-based research.
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.
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
This will be a helpful resources for students in MA year
