Forthcoming Issue March 2013 (13,1)

One of the aims of CPR is to reflect the pluralistic nature of counselling and psychotherapy research. That is, to draw on a number of research methodologies in the development of an evidence-base for practice. While many counsellors and psychotherapists might naturally be drawn to qualitative methods – approaches that parallel the discourse-based nature of therapy itself – much is to be gained from dipping into quantitative approaches, case studies, systematic reviews, randomised controlled trails, and so on. The methods might not be as familiar, but dipping toes into new waters can often bring new insights and understanding.

The March 2013 (13,1) issue of CPR again demonstrates this aim with a set of papers that look into a number of aspects of therapeutic work: a couple of papers consider the development and use of outcome measures in obtaining systematic feedback in the provision of therapy; other papers look at specific presenting problems in therapy, including self-harm and domestic violence; while others at the process of therapy itself, including pluralistic Transactional Analysis, the use of questions and preparing for ending therapy.

Here we can see the value of research into all aspects of counselling and psychotherapy, from the macro over-arching provision, through to the micro detail of therapeutic process. Different methods for different questions, each producing important outcomes that help us think differently about what we do as well as challenging long-held assumptions. This is the power of research and the value and importance of continuing to develop an evidence-base, which informs both how we deliver therapy and what therapy we might choose as clients.

All eight papers can be found in the March 2013 issue of CPR, both in print copy and online, and practitioner versions of each paper’s abstracts can be accessed by subscribing, free of charge, to our quarterly e-bulletin.

Dr Andrew Reeves
Editor, Counselling and Psychotherapy Research

  • Throughout February 2013, all our papers are available free to access online.
  • The March 2013 issue of CPR will be available online shortly before distribution of the print edition.
  • BACP members can access all CPR's papers online by first logging in to the BACP members' area at www.bacp.co.uk. When you're logged in to BACP: Connect click on Features and under the Useful links list, click on CPR online and follow the link.
  • CPR's quarterly e-bulletin includes Digests of all the papers in the forthcoming issue of the journal delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe to CPR e-bulletin.