The unfolding movement in therapeutic conversations with families
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The unfolding movement in therapeutic conversations with families where a member has an autism spectrum condition
IRAS ID
169188
Contact name
Sarah Helps
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bedfordshire
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 23 days
Research summary
This practice-based qualitative research inquiry seeks to explore aspects of systemic practice in working therapeutically with people who have a diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition (ASC) and their families.
The aims of the inquiry are to explore the ways in which I engage family members with differing styles of communication and different levels of language ability in conversation; the ways in which I move between the domains of aesthetics, explanation and production (and other domains, which need to be mapped out) in conversation with families; the moment to moment interactions that develop within therapeutic conversations which serve to develop and maintain a therapeutic relationship; how my practice sits in relation to the practice of other systemic practitioners who work with this patient group and how, through shared inquiry conversations, our practices can be shaped and developed
This inquiry will comprise two strands. The first relates to an exploration of the way in which conversations develop in my clinical work with families where there is a member with an ASC. The second relates to an exploration of the practice of myself and others and of ways in which that practice can be described and influenced.
Conversations with families: Permission will be requested to analyse video recordings, in addition to the usual analysis for clinical purposes.
Systemic practitioner participants: I will invite participants who are systemic practitioners and who work with families where there is ASC. I will recruit practitioners to a shared inquiry conversational group, meeting at least four times, over the course of a year. These conversations will be recorded and the data will be analysed.
Analysis of data gathered: The family interviews and clinician-participant interviews will be recorded and analysed. Conversational analysis and narrative analysis will be used to analyse the data.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1004
Date of REC Opinion
7 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion