About the Book
Research is a vital and often daunting component of many counselling and psychotherapy courses. As well as completing their own research projects, trainees across modalities must understand the research in the field - what it tells them and how to do it.
Breaking down this seemingly mountainous task into easy to swallow pieces, this book will navigate your students through each stage of the research process, from choosing a research question, through the pros and cons of different methods, to data analysis and writing up their findings.
Written by leading contributors from the field including John McLeod, Mick Cooper and Tim Bond, each chapter features points for reflection, engaging activities and suggestions for further reading, helping students to engage with all aspects of research. An original graphic narrative runs throughout the book, bringing this complex topic to life in a unique way.
Whether embarking on research for the first time or already a little familiar with research and research methods, this unique guide is something counselling and psychotherapy students will turn to continually throughout their research projects.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Setting the scene – Why research matters - Andreas Vossler, Naomi Moller & Mick Cooper
Attitudes to and perceptions of research - Andreas Vossler & Naomi Moller
Beginning the research journey
Choosing a research question - Elaine Kasket
How to read and understand research - Elena Gil-Rodiguez
Doing a literature review - Meg Barker
Introduction to research methodology - Ladislav Timulak
Planning your research: Design, method and sample - Terry Hanley, Clodagh Jordan & Kasia Wilk
Ethical considerations - Tim Bond
Writing a research proposal - Mark Donati
Methodologies and methods for doing research
Quantitative methods - Elspeth Twigg
How to use t-tests to explore pre-post change - Elspeth Twigg & Paul Redford
Qualitative methods - Linda Finlay
How to use thematic analysis with interview data - Virginia Braun, Victoria Clarke & Nicola Rance
Case studies methodologies - Julia McLeod, Mhairi Thurston & John McLeod
How to use case study methodology with single client therapy data - Mhairi Thurston, Julia McLeod & John McLeod
Completing the research journey
Dissemination of research - Andrew Reeves
Student top tips - Brian Sreenan, Harriet Smith & Charles Frost
Next steps – Building on and using research in training and practice - Peter Stratton, Naomi Moller & Andreas Vossler
About the Author :
Andreas Vossler is Director of the Foundation Degree in Counselling and Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the Open University. He is also a systemic trained couple and family psychotherapist. His current research activities focus on therapeutic work with couples and families, infidelity, Internet infidelity, and counselling and psychotherapy. Andreas is co-editor of the Counselling and Psychotherapy Research Handbook (2014) and Understanding Counselling and Psychotherapy (2010; both Sage). He has authored three textbooks and published 17 book chapters and 19 articles in peer-reviewed papers on topics related to counselling and psychotherapy (family therapy, infidelity, online counselling, health psychology, psychiatry) and research methods. Andreas is on the editorial board of Counselling Psychology Quarterly and Forum Community-Psychology.
Naomi Moller trained as a counselling psychologist in the United States. She is a chartered psychologist, a BACP registered counsellor, and a Professor of Psychology and Psychotherapy at The Open University. Naomi has worked with clients for about 25 years, mostly with adults in longer-term therapy. She is an integrative practitioner with humanistic values and relating at the core but draws on other understandings (attachment, psychodynamic) and techniques (emotion-focused therapy).
Review :
The editors of this book have assembled contributions from key authors who explain comprehensively the rationales for research and methods of conducting it, in accessible language that invites readers to overcome anxieties and doubts about using research. Vossler and Moller′s Handbook deserves to become the authoritative resource for practitioners and students of counselling and psychotherapy.
I think this is a most impressive text. The language employed is plain, accessible and inclusive and the editors have skilfully produced a coherent narrative without losing the distinctive voices of individual contributors. This will without doubt become required reading for anyone – novice or seasoned practitioner – who seeks a wise companion on their own research journey.
In an era of "big data" and evidence based practice, this book provides students and practitioners with an engaging and informative way into the world of counselling and psychotherapy research. It is essential reading for those starting to make sense of and engage in empirical study.
There have been plenty of publications on research as well as on training in counselling and psychotherapy. This wonderful handbook brings them together for the first time. It is a landmark publication: a comprehensive overview and a didactically excellent journey through the research process guided by experienced, well-known researchers. Research questions and planning; designs; methodologies and methods; organization and dissemination are discussed. It is ambitious but provides easily accessible expertise for students, practitioners and young researchers. It will have a large international impact on counselling and psychotherapy training and on the scientist-practitioner self concept of counsellors and psychotherapists.
In true ‘handbook’ style, this engaging, comprehensive and motivational publication can be used as an exemplary reference tool throughout the research process. I would definitely recommend it to students, educators and researchers alike. Although it is intended primarily for students, there is much in its content for trainers and educators too.
This book left me feeling excited and enthusiastic about conducting research - something I have not felt previously. It is a must for all students and practitioners. Whether you have no knowledge at all, or limited experience in research, this book fills the gap.
In this research handbook, attempts are made to enable the reader to overcome ′internal′ hurdles to research...The reader is led through some very practical stages, from deciding on a research topic, to focusing down the research question, to deciding on the method...to conducting a literature review and data analysis, to becoming aware of ethical issues, to writing-up and dissemination. A strength of the book is that it is written by both relatively new, and many seasoned researchers- each drawing on their past and current experience. This significantly adds ′texture′ to the relevance and accessibility of the material...this is now a book I will be highly recommending that all of my research students have in their personal libraries, to refer to constantly throughout their research process.
Clearly written, engaging style. Detailed and comprehensive. This is an excellent book to support students in introducing them to research methods so that they can read published research more critically and to help them towards writing their own research proposals and conducting research projects. When combined with additional, more in-depth reading on each of the topics I think this is a very good addition to our recommended reading on the MA.
This book is exactly what I need to oversee a Research Methods module for Psychotherapy and Counselling students, and a dissertation project module for Psychotherapy and Counselling students. It contains chapters on the key topics for the modules, and it is pitched at the right level. It contains the key points I want students to engage with, and these points are explained simply, clearly, and concisely. The "activity" sections of chapters include helpful ideas for seminar discussions. I highly recommend this book."
This is a very well pitched book for students considering a career as a clinical psychologist. I used this book to inform my students on the Research methods module, part of our BSc in Applied Psychology. This lecture went down well as it had implications for students who are considering a career in Clinical Psychology, counseling psychology and Psychotherapy. I used the examples to give students time to discuss the implications of the ethical tool kit. Also used the example of the therapist as a researcher. Students were also shocked to learn about the Tuskeegee study. A very clearly presented book, which is not littered with technical jargon. It helped to place the student in the mindset of the therapist who is also a researcher.
A very good book, and already proving helpful for my students
excellent textbook and I am excited to use with my students next term!
I will be recommending this book to psychology undergraduate students who are taking a counselling psychology module. It will contribute to their understanding and evaluation of counselling psychology research, in addition to giving invaluable help with conducting their own research projects.
An extremely useful book.
This will serve students in the research and dissertation modules as a good source
I found the layout of the book very clear and user-friendly. Also the different contributors provided clear contextual examples, especially the step-by-step outline of t-testing was particularly helpful. I will be definitely recommending this book as part of the Research Methods module.
Very useful for students in final year of training.
This book provides a great strucutre to the process of reserach for students who have never done any.
It provides a clear pathway that progressively builds on each chapter to provide a road map of the research journey.
Great introduction to why research is so important and lots of useful hacks to give the reader confidence to either undertake their own research or be able to sort the wheat from the chaff of other people′s research.
A topic which one of our students described ′as dry as burnt toast′ so it was really helpful to find a textbook that enabled our students to begin to make sense of this topic.
Good, background coverage and a useful resource book to dip into.
easy to navigate and read
This is a valuable resource for first time researchers or those wanting to understand the world of counselling research. It is friendly, accessible and clear. CPCAB will recommend it to tutors and learners on level 4 and level 5 diplomas.
not very useful for current teaching
An excellent resource for trainees and researchers alike. Simple, easy to follow language. Does a great job at demystifying the research process.
This book will prove really useful for our students when they are undertaking their research assignments and in their future careers.
An excellent book - demystifying and making accessible the tasks and stages of research. Readable and well organised, the text is a must read for those needing support or guidance I this area.
This provides an excellent understanding of research, leading the student through key elements. An essential guide for our students
A useful and accessible book. Ultimately, I decided that the subject matter was not applicable to the whole cohort of students for whom I had envisaged it, but I will be directing individual students to the book.
This is a great book, with contributions from leaders in the fields of counselling psychology, psychotherapy and counselling. It will be useful to trainees and to qualified practitioners alike
