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.

Research Events

UKCP is holding a one-day research event in June 2025 and is now accepting abstracts. The theme for this year is Connecting with self, others and the environment in a complex world. Please go to our events webpage for more information.

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 20^th of every month. Those accepted will be posted on the 25^th 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.

Identifying collaborators or finding researchers with access to academic institutions

I am eager to expand my research portfolio alongside my clinical practice and connect with like-minded individuals. Over the last five years, I have focused on developing innovative therapeutic methods tailored to ethnic communities, which led to the creation of Chinese Calligraphy Enhanced Therapy (CCET), now trademarked as Mindfulness Calligraphy Enhanced Therapy (MCET). This culturally sensitive approach is specifically designed for Chinese communities, and I am currently writing a book about it.

I am looking to connect with individuals who share an interest in research and psychotherapy, particularly those committed to decolonising mental health, challenging Eurocentric theories, and advancing culturally sensitive therapeutic practices. I am especially passionate about supporting marginalised communities and enhancing mental health practices that are responsive to diverse cultural backgrounds, particularly in training programs for psychology and psychotherapy.

If this aligns with your interests, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact me at juandutherapy@gmail.com.

Recruiting participants: What are the support, training, and clinical supervision needs of psychological therapists working with suicidal clients? A Delphi Study.

Are you a psychological therapist who has worked with clients at risk of suicide? Participants needed.

Can I take part?
If you are:
• A qualified psychological therapist (e.g. psychologist, counsellor, CBT therapist, psychotherapist)
• Accredited by a professional body (e.g. HCPC, BACP, BABCP)
• Based in the UK
And you have worked therapeutically with one or more clients you deemed to be at risk of suicide, we would like to hear from you.

What is the purpose of the research?
The study aims to develop a clearer understanding of what support, training, and supervision psychological therapists need, when they are working with clients who they deem to be at risk of suicide.

Why participate?
It is hoped the findings will initiate conversations about how appropriate training, support, and supervisory structures can be implemented to better support therapists and contribute to the development of clinical guidelines.

What is involved?
The study involves completing two questionnaires several months apart. You will be asked to draw upon your knowledge, expertise, and clinical experiences of working with suicidal clients to rate the importance of the statements in each questionnaire. This will help us to reach a consensus on key support, training, and clinical supervision needs.

Find out more
To participate, click the link (below):
https://www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_daSKjltWsf5fncG

Please contact the researcher, Jessica Woodley (Trainee Clinical Psychologist), if you have any further questions: STaCS-Delphi@manchester.ac.uk.

The University of Manchester (UREC Reference: 2024-18107-36194).

Recruiting participants: How does an integrative psychotherapist use a biophilic lens when working with a dominant schizoid adaptation

The purpose of my research is to learn about the psychotherapist's experience of incorporating a biophilic lens when working with clients who believe in a rejecting world.

I am looking to recruit integrative psychotherapists with at least two years of experience incorporating nature and/or animals into their practice.

I am asking participants to take part in a semi-structured interview with me via video call. The interview will last 50-90 minutes.

For more information, please email me at Rebecca.squire@spti.net.

Recruiting participants: Disordered eating in female patients: mother/daughter relationship, overeating and manifestions in the consulting room.

Are you a female psychoanalytic or psychodynamic counsellor/psychotherapist who has or is working with a female patient who experiences overeating, binge eating or has difficulties with body weight?

My name is Lesley, and I am a psychotherapist working in this area. I am currently in the 2nd year of a Professional Doctorate in Psychodynamic Counselling at the University of Essex.

I am looking to explore the dynamics between female binge/overeating patients and the relationships that these patients might have with their mothers to see how these relate and are experienced in the consulting room with a female therapist.

Participating in my research study would involve a short 30-minute conversation to discuss the project and a 60 – 90-minute Zoom interview with me discussing your experience of working with patients with this presentation.

Requirement for participants:
• qualified female psychoanalytic or psychodynamic counsellor or psychotherapist
• registered with BACP, BPC or UKCP
• working with adult female patients (over 18) who present with binge/overeating or body weight difficulties.

If you are interested in getting involved or have any questions and would like more information, please email me at lr21604@essex.ac.uk.

Recruiting participants: Chemobrain’ impact and remediation: a focus on the paediatric patient

This study aims to assess clinical and allied health professionals' perceptions, awareness, and management strategies regarding paediatric 'chemobrain' - cognitive impairment resulting from cancer and its treatment.

We invite participants who are clinicians or allied health professionals, have experience working with paediatric cancer survivors (including adult survivors), are fluent in English and reside in an English-speaking country.

Participation involves approximately 15 minutes and internet access. The survey includes 7-point Likert scale questions and short free-text responses, with optional sections to accommodate time constraints.

For more information, including the participant information sheet, please visit https://redcap.link/paedonc or contact PhD Candidate Miss Ines Semendric at ines.semendric@adelaide.edu.au.

Recruiting participants: Systemic Online Alliance Project (SOAP)

Are you a systemic practitioner working online therapeutically? Would you be willing to share insights about your practice? I'd love to hear from you!

I’m Valentini, a Trainee Clinical Psychologist at RHUL, completing SOAP as part of my doctoral thesis under Prof Helen Pote’s supervision.

Who can take part?
Systemic practitioners currently delivering sessions online who:
-Are qualified to at least intermediate systemic practice level in the UK
-Work with young people (up to 18) and their families, delivering at least 50% of sessions online
-Are willing to reflect on their current online alliance-building practice and discuss their work with a family anonymously with the researcher in an interview.

Why take part?
With systemic therapy increasingly delivered online post-pandemic, we aim to identify good practices that can shape a theoretical framework for strengthening online systemic alliances, highlighting essential skills and techniques.

What to expect?
You’ll reflect on a recent online session focusing on alliance-building with a family during a 1-hour interview. A reflective memory aid will be provided beforehand to help you recall helpful moments. No identifying information about the family or their issues will be required.

How to participate:
For more details, visit https://qualtricsxmxn7ljr672.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6GzS0j7E1AYvE58 or email nljt200@live.rhul.ac.uk.