Experiences of the setting and therapeutic space in Psychotherapy_Ver1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How do psychotherapists and clients occupy and experience the therapeutic setting and therapeutic space in psychotherapy? An ethnographic study incorporating phenomenological analysis interviews.
IRAS ID
136893
Contact name
Tara Morrey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Research summary
Aim: This qualitative research project involves collecting accounts of how the setting and spaces of psychotherapy locations are experienced by those involved in psychotherapy.
Rationale : Psychotherapy settings and the therapeutic space within them have a particular ethos as safe and contained spaces in which psychological dynamics are explored. The way that these spaces contribute to experiences of the therapy process is little studied.
Research Project: This project is self-funded and is taking place in two sites. One of these sites is a tertiary NHS psychotherapy outpatient service at Devon House, Birmingham. This service is available for adults who experience complex mental health difficulties. The second site will be in a voluntary sector psychotherapy location, enabling commonalities and contrasts of space experiences to be observed across the studies.
Design: The project has three phases.
Phase 1 is observation based. This will take an ethnographic approach which includes gathering observational data. I aim to explore how the waiting area and shared staff spaces are occupied and used. The data will be collated and analysed in order to consider how those involved in psychotherapy occupy its spaces in day to day practice.
Phases 2 and 3 are interview-based. Both will take an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach to the accounts. The interviews for phase 2 will be based on photographs of rooms and spaces in the setting. This phase involves participants selecting and reflecting on the photographs provided. Phase 3 is a verbal interview exploring the ways participants occupy and experience the spaces. 5-6 therapists who work at the setting and 5-6 clients who are near the end of therapy there, will be interviewed separately for both phases.
Through the combination of 3 phases I aim to produce a multi-faceted ethnographic account of therapeutic setting and space experiences.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/WM/0020
Date of REC Opinion
6 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion