Research at UKCP
Research is central to the future of the psychotherapy profession. Through our work we aim is to raise the profile of the profession, utilising the expertise of our membership.
UKCP’s strategic aims
- Ensuring research supports the UKCP’s policy objectives to increase access to psychotherapy.
- Improving education about research and promote its importance within the UKCP membership.
- Developing an effective system for collating clinical data from our membership.
- Combining existing and new research to improve the evidence base for psychotherapy, as well as promote its importance for wellbeing and mental health.
- Collaborating with psychotherapy researchers to define and address the needs for future research.
How we will work towards achieving these aims
- Among the UKCP members are many influential researchers. We are working to strengthen connections with our research-active members to support impactful and widespread dissemination of their work, as well as to assist us in our drive to inform policy.
- Collaboration is essential the UKCP’s research strategy to develop innovative, high-impact research. We are working to enhance connections across the board with universities, the NHS and charitable organisations.
- We will be collaborating both internally and externally to promote the importance of research within training programmes and across the profession as a whole.
Current research projects
University of Sheffield
UKCP has provided funding to Professor Michael Barkham and his team at the University of Sheffield to conduct in-depth analyses of longitudinal IAPT datasets. This research will contribute to the evidence base for psychotherapy in treating depression in adults.
NHS pathways project
UKCP is conducting a three-year-long research project tracking students in the NHS pathways pilot. We aim to understand students’ experiences providing therapy in the NHS and how their training translates to working in this environment. We are in year two of the project.
Special issue EJPC
We're collaborating with the European Journal of Psychotherapy (EJPC) on a special issue entitled “Decolonising psychotherapy and empires of the mind: Opportunities and debates.” A call for papers was issued to UKCP members and the selected articles have been sent for peer review. More information can be found on our webpage.
Get involved – connect and collaborate
We are always looking for new ways to support our members with research and to connect with non-UKCP academics and practitioners. We are actively seeking to hear more about existing research and to discuss collaborations across all modalities. Our current areas of focus include:
- New ways of assessing psychotherapy and evaluating its effectiveness
- Collaborating on, and supporting, studies of effectiveness across therapeutic modalities and client populations
- Innovative research, investigating the therapeutic process
- Practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
If you would like to get involved or discuss active research projects or proposals, please email the research team.
Research working group
As a relatively small organisation with limited resources, we have been working hard to think of ways to improve research for the organisation and the membership. To help us accomplish this, we have put together a board level Research Working Group. Members of the group include Prof Divine Charura (DCounPsych), Dr Sofie Bager-Charleson, Prof Vicky Karkou, and Dr Gella Richards.
The group will be focusing on how to better support the membership with research, whilst also addressing external research strategy.
This will include:
- Improving education and guidance about conducting psychotherapy research.
- Assessing how we may be able to support therapists to gain ethical approval to conduct research.
- Enhancing networking and collaboration opportunities.
- Promoting research funding opportunities.
Research noticeboard
Are you a UKCP member involved in a research project?
Our noticeboard aims to help psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors:
- recruit participants for a study
- notify members of ongoing research projects
- identify collaborators.
If you’re a UKCP member interested in circulating information about research to other members, please fill out this form and our research team will be in touch. Requests to post on the noticeboard will be reviewed on the 20th of every month. Those accepted will be posted on the 25th of every month for a duration of four weeks.
Please note: requests may not be accepted for a variety of reasons, including the volume of requests or the research topic.
This doctoral study explores how qualified therapists in the UK intentionally use film and television in their clinical practice.
The research seeks to understand the motivations, patterns of use and ethical reflections that shape how screen media is discussed in therapeutic work – whether as metaphor, psychoeducational tool, relational bridge or spontaneous discussion initiated by clients.
The study is being conducted by a Doctoral trainee in counselling psychology and psychotherapy at Metanoia Institute /Middlesex University and has received full ethics approval from Middlesex University and Metanoia Research Ethics Committee.
Participants must be practising in the UK as a psychotherapist, counsellor, counselling psychologist or clinical psychologist; registered with a recognised professional body (UKCP, BACP, HCPC, BPS, BPC, NCPS or equivalent); have at least one year of post-qualification clinical experience; and have experience of intentionally discussing film and/or television content with clients.
Participation involves completing a short eligibility and background form (approximately 5 minutes). If eligible, participants will be invited to take part in a one-to-one confidential online interview via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, lasting approximately 60 minutes, scheduled at a time convenient to them.
To register interest, please fill out this form or contact the researcher directly: Shirley Lixenberg, 06482@metanoia.ac.uk.
Have you experienced anxiety during perimenopause? I would love to hear from you.
I am a doctoral researcher in counselling psychology and psychotherapy seeking women to take part in a study exploring experiences of anxiety during perimenopause and how talking therapy may have supported wellbeing during this time.
Many women experience anxiety during the menopause transition, yet their personal experiences are often underrepresented in research. By sharing your story, you can help improve understanding of the emotional challenges associated with perimenopause and contribute to better support for women in the future.
Who can take part?
Women aged 35-60 who:
- identify as being perimenopausal
- have experienced anxiety symptoms during perimenopause
- have attended talking therapy for at least six weeks to help manage these experiences.
What does participation involve?
A confidential one-to-one interview lasting approximately 60 minutes, conducted online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. With your consent, the interview will be audio-recorded for research purposes. All identifying information will be removed to ensure anonymity.
About the study
This research forms part of a Doctorate in counselling psychology and psychotherapy and has received ethical approval from the Metanoia Institute.
For more information or to take part, please contact:
Michelle Berry MSc, GMBPpS
Email: 06169@metanoia.ac.uk
Thank you for considering participation. Your experiences could help shape a better understanding of women's mental health during the menopause transition.
We are conducting research that seeks to explore therapist's experiences and perspectives of their therapeutic relationships in contemporary practice. This research is a survey study that will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
What is the purpose of this study?
The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of practitioners’ experiences and perspectives of therapeutic relationships in contemporary practice. We are particularly interested in how psychotherapeutic practitioners build, adapt and evolve anti-oppressive, inclusive and socially just therapeutic relationships in their work. The study also aims to explore the challenges practitioners encounter when developing and maintaining collaborative and effective therapeutic relationships with their clients. In addition, we seek to learn which therapeutic modalities inform practitioners’ approaches to the therapeutic relationship, as well as the tools or mechanisms they use to support their self-awareness, systemic awareness and political awareness within their work with patients and clients.
You can find more details of the study here: https://yorksj.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eWZCd3OCcnCJU6G
For additional information, please contact Professor Divine Charura at d.charura@yorksj.ac.uk.
This is an extension of my 2018-2022 research and subsequent SUNMENTORS EU Erasmus+ project with four higher education institutions (HEIs) to identify the impact of the e-learning training for teaching staff to more effectively support students struggling with their mental health across different HEIs. After amendments from the pilot evaluation the training will be freely available to European HEIs from December 2025. The proposed impact project will take place from July 2026 to June 2027 to gather experiences of the training from the HEIs signed up. It will elicit perspectives from teaching staff on any impact of the training in relation to their interactions with students experiencing poor mental health.
For additional information, please contact Helen Payne at h.l.payne@herts.ac.uk.
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