Clients’ experience of research within a research clinic setting

Abstract

AimThis study explored the impact that the research process has on individual clients and their progress in therapy.MethodThis was a relatively small-scale qualitative study (N=17). The data consisted of an archive of semistructured interviews from a university-based psychotherapy research clinic that were analysed using a version of grounded theory analysis.FindingsSome clients described as helpful the use of questionnaires, particularly the Personal Questionnaire (PQ) and Helpful Aspects of Therapy (HAT) Form, and the Qualitative Change Interview. Research procedures reported by other clients included the use of recording equipment, questionnaires (particularly the HAT Form), and interviews. The meaning that the research process had for clients was also considered, and provided evidence for a ‘moral trade-off’ experienced by participants.DiscussionThere appears to a great diversity of client experiences of the research process, some positive and some negative. Questionnaires, recording equipment and interviews were the most commonly discussed aspects of the research process.ImplicationsThese findings give us some indication of the issues that should be considered when planning research in the counselling psychology field.