Talking Therapies and Rough Sleeping

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Talking Therapies and Rough Sleeping: Views of People with Lived Experience and Clinical Psychologists

  • IRAS ID

    341189

  • Contact name

    Lorna Farquharson

  • Contact email

    l.farquharson@uel.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of East London

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 4 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Homelessness in the UK is on the rise, and rough sleepers are amongst the most vulnerable of this population, often having traumatic past experiences as well as being victims of crime and abuse while living on the streets. Consequently many rough sleepers experience poor mental health, but it can be difficult for them to access psychological therapies to support their mental health. This is often due to being excluded from services because of additional problems such as substance misuse, or to a perception that therapy is not appropriate for rough sleepers until they are housed or in a more stable situation. There is a lack of research into the views of rough sleepers on this and into their experiences of psychological therapies, and little research into the perspective of Clinical Psychologists when working with rough sleepers specifically. This study will aim to interview both Clinical Psychologists working in homeless services, and current or ex rough sleepers who have accessed psychological therapies, in order to find out their views.

  • REC name

    London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    24/LO/0519

  • Date of REC Opinion

    15 Aug 2024

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion