Our first collaborative workshop focussed on practice-based research in counselling and psychotherapy. This was the first in a series of four workshops in which we aimed to de-mystify the process and realities of practice-based research in our field and bring together people with all sorts of experience levels.
In the first workshop we introduced the Strathclyde Counselling and Psychotherapy Research Clinic and shared some of our experiences of carrying out practice-based research. We also showcased some past and present research projects, such as our analysis of four ‘no change’ case studies.
We enjoyed exploring these with attendees and exchanging our experiences. Together, we came up with some basic 'principles for practice' around practice-based research and how it can be integrated into our work as counsellors and psychotherapists. You can find a list of the principles we came up with below.
As well as serving as a foundation for the remaining three workshops, this workshop created a space for practitioners to think more concretely about introducing a research element into their practice, if this was something they were interested in. There was also time for questions and animated discussions.
We invited all our workshop attendees to take part in a follow-up study which is still on-going. The intent is to measure the impact the workshops have had on attendees’ practice and what they have taken away from them. Participation in the follow-up research is entirely voluntary. Read more about the research aspect of the project.