Research at UKCP

This doctoral research study explores how counselling psychologists perceive, experience, and make meaning of perceived harm in psychological therapies. Iatrogenic harm refers to negative changes in a client’s physical, mental, social or spiritual wellbeing that are attributable to psychotherapy. While research often focuses on therapeutic benefit, far less is known about how counselling psychologists understand and respond to perceived harm, and how this impacts them personally and professionally. This study aims to address this gap by examining practitioners’ subjective experiences and the meaning they make of these events.

Eligible participants are HCPC registered counselling psychologists with a minimum of three years post qualification experience. Participants should be able to discuss direct or indirect experiences of perceived harm that occurred at least 12 months ago, do not relate to current clients, and have been previously explored in supervision. Experiences may include occasions where the psychologist perceived that their therapeutic practice or intervention may have contributed to harm. 

Participation involves a 60–90 minute online semi structured interview. Interview questions will be provided in advance to support informed consent and emotional preparation. Participants may skip questions, take breaks, or stop the interview at any time. Reasonable adjustments can be requested. A debrief will be offered afterwards.

Participation is voluntary. Data will be anonymised, handled and stored per GDPR. For further information or to express interest, please contact: Ciaran Ball at cb1532@live.mdx.ac.uk.

Are you a psychotherapist who integrates indigenous sound practices into your therapeutic work? Your experience and insights are warmly invited for a new research study exploring how therapists understand, apply, and ethically navigate the use of these practices.

What Participation Involves:

• A 60–90 minute semi-structured interview (online via secure video)
• Questions exploring your experiences, training, and ethical reflections
• With your permission, the interview will be audio-recorded and transcribed
• Participation is voluntary; you may withdraw anytime before Friday 23rd May

Who Can Take Part? 
You are eligible if you are an accredited psychotherapist with experience incorporating indigenous sound practices into your therapeutic work. 
We are seeking 4–6 participants.

Interested or Have Questions? Please contact: 
Researcher: Sadia Hussain 
MSc Integrative Psychotherapy 
Sadia.Hussain@warwick.ac.uk
This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Warwick Ethics Committee.

I am inviting therapists who menstruate to take part in a research study which explores how psychotherapists relate to or make sense of their menstrual cycle in the context of their therapeutic practice.  
 
Aims of the research:
The study aims to understand how embodied changes may influence therapists’ sense of presence and connection with clients. It also explores whether different stages of the menstrual cycle are experienced as relevant to therapeutic practice. 
 
By listening to therapists’ reflections, the study brings visibility to an aspect of therapists’ lived experience that is often overlooked. The research aims to contribute to wider conversations about embodiment, gender, and professional life in psychotherapy.

You can take part if you:

• Are a UK-based therapist practising with clients
• Experience a menstrual cycle not affected by hormonal regulation
• Have access to personal therapy or supervision

The study is inclusive of all gender identities, including trans and non-binary participants, provided they experience a menstrual cycle.

Participation involves a confidential one-to-one online interview lasting 60–90 minutes.

If you are interested in taking part, please contact the researcher, Ashton, for further information: ashton.minto@warwick.ac.uk. 

I am conducting some short research interviews for my MSc exploring how trainee counsellors/psychotherapists experience their own woundedness during the training process.  
 
Who can participate? Trainee counsellors and psychotherapists who:

• Have completed at least 2 years of a 3 year training
• Have at least 40 hrs of personal therapy
• Are currently in personal therapy.

Participation involves a one off interview lasting between approximately 60-90 minutes.

If you would like to get involved and find out further details on participation please email: 
caroline.sargeant@warwick.ac.uk. 

The aim of this research is to explore how adult psychotherapists who are parents of neurodivergent children reflect on and make sense of their personal and professional experiences.  
 
Objectives:

• To conduct semi-structured interviews with adult psychotherapists who are parents of neurodivergent children.
• To analyse how psychotherapists who parent neurodivergent children describe and make sense of their experiences both personally and professionally.  
• To explore how psychotherapists reflect on their lived experiences of wellbeing, resilience and stress in the context of parenting a neurodivergent child.

I am myself the carer of a neurodivergent child, which for me has been a transformative experience, and one which undoubtedly impacts my evolving identity as a psychotherapist-in-training. It is a niche experience but not a rare one and is not comprehensively addressed in existing literature. It is a lived experience which offers a potentially insightful example of the intersection between the personal and the professional in psychotherapy. A social constructivist interpretivist approach will be used to allow rich, qualitative understanding of the unique lived experience of participants. 

If you are interested in taking part or would like more information, please email Sheryl Root on sheryl.root@yahoo.co.uk.

This research aims to explore the experiences of experienced existential therapists in discussing sex with clients, to gain a deeper understanding of how therapists might be influencing the dynamics of these discussions and the significance that these have for the therapeutic relationships. While potentially sensitive, therapists’ willingness to share vulnerabilities may be a valuable contribution to the field. The findings may help inform future training and foster a more open and embodied approach to addressing sexuality in therapy, and ultimately contribute to the client’s overall relational and emotional well-being. 
 
This study is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in participant recruitment. Individuals of all genders, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, ages, and sexual orientations are welcome to participate. 
 
I am recruiting psychotherapists who fulfil the criteria below:

• being a qualified existential therapist with a minimum of five years of post-qualification clinical experience
• registered or accredited with a recognised UK professional body (e.g., UKCP, BACP)
• engaged in regular clinical supervision, ensuring reflective practice and ongoing professional support
• currently practising within the field of psychotherapy in the UK

Participation involves attending a 60 to 90-minute online interview, which will remain confidential and anonymised.

This study has received ethical approval from the NSPC Ethics Committee.

Please contact Mariana for more information: sexandtherapystudy@gmail.com. 

I am currently recruiting therapists with experience of practising therapy with adult victims and witnesses who are/ or have been involved in criminal proceedings to participate in online research interviews.  
 
The research aims to explore therapists’:

• experiences and views of practising with adult victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings
• their views of the relationship between therapy and witness memory.

Am I eligible to participate?  
 
To be eligible to participate, therapists must:

1. Have or have had experience of practising therapy with an adult witness or victim who was due to give evidence in a criminal trial in England and/or Wales.
2. Be a currently practising Counsellor, Psychotherapist or Practitioner Psychologist in England and/or Wales.
3. Must be registered or accredited to practice therapy with a relevant professional body (UKCP, BACP, HCPC, or equivalent).

Participation will involve taking part in an online interview with me on Microsoft teams that will last between 30 minutes and 1 hour. This can be scheduled at a time that is mutually convenient to both the researcher and participant.

Research Contact Details:
If you are interested in participating and would like further information about the study, please email me, Hannah Jeffery, at 06477@metanoia.ac.uk.

This study has received ethical approval from the Metanoia Institute Research Ethics Committee.