Making Research Matter

Making Research Matter is an original contribution to the growing field of work-based learning with a focus on research aimed at developing the practice of counselling and psychotherapy addressing the practice-research gap. Stephen Goss, Christine Stevens and their contributors explore the links between research and professional practice and show how this can impact on practice to make a genuine, demonstrable contribution to the development of therapeutic services, good practice and the understanding of psychological and social issues. The book is divided into two parts. Part one gives an account of the thinking, ethos and development of work-based learning. It explores the importance of the in-depth rigorous and reflexive inquiry skills needed to sustain research project work. Part two presents nine studies of work-based psychotherapy or counselling related research. Each account sets out the focus and motivation of the study and critically discusses how the research design was developed, the choice of methods employed, with an explanation of the outcomes. A vital part of each account is a review of how the research has been used to make changes and developments in the work setting. Making Research Matter provides insights into the lived experience of the practitioner-researcher, to stimulate the reader to generate their own ideas for research enquiry. It presents a range of proven, successful research projects, and shows how they have made a difference in the development of theory and practice which lead to positive change, better services and more informed practice. It will be an essential resource for psychotherapists, counsellors, social workers, and those involved in coaching and clinical psychology.

Stephen Goss is Principal Lecturer at the Metanoia Institute, London. He is the author of numerous publications including Evidence Based Counselling and Psychological Therapies: Research and applications, and he is also co-editor of the British Journal of Guidance and Counselling. Christine Stevens is Tutor and Academic Advisor at the Metanoia Institute, London. She is a member of the Scientific Board of the European Association of Gestalt Therapy. She has contributed to numerous publications.

Contributors Introduction Drs Stephen Goss and Christine Stevens Part 1 Chapter 1 Facilitating High-Achievers to Tell Their Stories of Professional Entrepreneurialism: Lessons from the Doctorate in Psychotherapy by Professional Studies Professor Simon du Plock and Professor Paul Barber Chapter 2 Supporting work-based doctoral projects: the role of the Academic Advisor Dr Christine Stevens Chapter 3 The First Step: The Review of Personal and Professional Learning Professor Maja O'Brien with Dr Christine Stevens Chapter 4 Relational Research Reflexivity Dr Sofie Bager-Charleson Part 2 Chapter 5 Challenging the Ivory Tower: Collaboration and Creativity in Practitioner Research Dr Ruth Caleb Chapter 6 Bibliotherapy and Beyond: Research as a Catalyst for Change in Therapeutic Practice Professor Simon du Plock Chapter 7 The Therapeutic Functions of Mental Imagery in Psychotherapy: Constructing a Theoretical Model Dr Val Thomas Chapter 8 A Journey of Research and Development in Psychotherapy Supervision Dr Mary Creaner Chapter 9 Infected by Trauma: Cross-professional Supervision as a Participative Inquiry with a Team of Trauma Therapists and Things to Watch Out For on a Professional Doctoral Journey Dr Bobby Moore Chapter 10 Black Issues in the Therapeutic Process: A Multicultural Heuristic Study. Dr Isha Mckenzie-Mavinga Chapter 11 A Heuristic Inquiry Into Therapeutic Practice: Enhancing the Internal Supervisor Dr Els van Ooijen Chapter 12 Exploring the Contributions of Psychotherapy to the Teacher/Child Relationship Dr Carol Holliday Chapter 13 Achieving Process and Impact via Public Works Drs Kate Anthony and Kathryn May