Ethics in Participatory Research on Counselling and Psychotherapy

“An important step-change in how we think about research inclusion and democratisation in counselling and psychotherapy"

Angela Sweeney,Senior Lecturer in User-Led Research, King's College London

“Much has been written about ethics in counselling and psychotherapy, but it is rare to encounter a book written with such a depth of practice experience and academic insight whilst honouring what ethics truly means in the context of participatory research: Nothing about us without us! The message is clear: participatory research is driven by an intention to overcome injustice and support respectful, inclusive, and relational ways through which people who may have quite different backgrounds, goals, values and skills can live together. Presented here is a text that has short, focused chapters supported by vivid examples, learning activities, and which contains welcome references as well as suggestions for further reading. This is truly an indispensable straightforward introductory guide for anyone seeking to develop a better appreciation of the strengths, limitations and application of participatory research in counselling, psychotherapy and allied professions”

Divine Charura, Professor of Counselling Psychology, School of Education, Language and Psychology, York St John University

“This latest book by John and Julia McLeod delves into the intricacies of collaborative participatory research that aims to reconfigure the stances of power and privilege that shape how knowledge is generated and interpreted. Ethics of Participatory Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy not only offers an incredible depth of scholarship and information, it is also inspiring and encourages the enrichment of research approaches by giving voice to marginalized and overlooked perspectives. The ethical and engaged consideration leads the reader to reflect on their own relationship with research and knowledge generation. I predict that the book will become a go to reference point for anybody conducting research in counselling and psychotherapy”

Ladislav Timulak. Counselling psychologist and practicing therapist; involved in the training of future practitioners and researchers as Professor in Counselling Psychology at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

“An amazing and thought-provoking exploration of the concepts and methods of participatory research. The authors advocate a simple, yet often unfulfilled idea: all research should aim to be clinically meaningful, ethically responsible, and do justice to participants’ perspectives. Instead of being yet another textbook on research methods, this book opens new avenues for researcher reflection, creativity, and humility in relation to the challenges presented by an ever-evolving human world”

Tomáš Řiháček, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Head of Centre for Psychotherapy Research at Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.

“This important and enlightening book takes us a step further from the days when research participants were ‘subjects’ to their involvement as active, engaged, and empowered collaborators. Participatory enquiry is at the leading edge of developments in the counselling and psychotherapy research field, and McLeod and McLeod give a practical, informative, and comprehensive guide to establishing the ethical foundations for this work”

Mick Cooper, Professor of Counselling Psychology, Roehampton University, London

“Participatory research methods are the ones that my students are most excited to learn. McLeod and McLeod present these methods with a passion that is inspiring and also with an honesty and openness that makes participatory research approachable. As leading scholars in psychotherapy and counselling research, they attend to fine points of method that further the methodological integrity of projects as well as their potential to further social justice ends”

Heidi M. Levitt, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston,Editor, Qualitative Psychology and author of Essentials of Critical-Constructivist Grounded Theory and oReporting Qualitative Research in Psychology.

“Psychotherapy research offers limited benefit to clients and therapists unless it is grounded in their perspectives; that is, unless it is truly participatory. So far, such research is in short supply. Enter John and Julia McLeod, who offer their readers an introduction to participatory research grounded in a compelling ethical framework. The authors write vividly, using jargon-free language and evocative examples. How rare to find a book on research that is a pleasure to read. Readers will come away inspired and equipped to participate in research that matters”

Lisa A. Goodman. Clinical-community psychologist and Professor and Training Director in the Department of Counseling and Applied Developmental Psychology at Boston College. She uses a community-based participatory research approach to explore intimate partner violence, social justice pedagogy, and healing practices that extend beyond the 50-minute hour in counseling psychology.

“John and Julia McLeod shed scholarly light on areas long neglected in psychotherapy and counseling research, and discuss why it took so long for these practices to flow toward the mainstream. This book not only provides great insight and practical detail on the rationales for participatory research approaches across a range of specific therapy topics. It also, with the extraordinary strength of a friendly-toned, well-read, and clinically experienced perspective, situates therapy and therapy research as practice communities within their relevant social and moral contexts. I recommend this book as a brilliant resource for both young and experienced researchers”

Christian Moltu. Head of Research, Division of Psychiatry, Førde Hospital Trust. Professor of Clinical Psychology, Western Norway University of Applied Science

“I wish this book had been available before I did my participatory research with NHS psychotherapy clients on Complex PTSD because it would have saved me a lot of time and trouble! It will be an invaluable resource for any therapist or trainee who believes that clients need to have a voice in research in order to make that research credible - central priority in relation to the democratisation of the research enterprise”

Dr Catherine Matheson, EMDR Consultant, Supervisor in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, practising in south London

“This book is a trailblazer, filled with compelling insights and practical advice. The authors masterfully introduce participatory research through a blend of storytelling and actionable steps. It’s a beacon of ethical wisdom and an invaluable resource. Part of the Ethics in Action series, it bridges gaps between disciplines, promoting social justice and inclusivity. It’s engaging and transformative, fostering collaboration within research and enhancing ethical awareness through a pluralistic lens—a must-read!”

Dr. Marcella Finnerty, IICP College President, Dublin

“This book brings a much-needed paradigm shift - setting a next stage after the evidence-based approach to psychotherapy research and practice. Participatory research broadens the focus of research in counselling and psychotherapy by including perspectives of service users, clients, carer, and members of society who are directly and indirectly

affected by it. It provides a wholistic view of research by aligning scientific rigor with a variety of social justice goals. The book is highly valuable for researchers, instructors, and both graduate and undergraduate students in all areas of helping professions and will contribute to developing future research that is scientifically rigorous and socially transformative.”

Shigeru Iwakabe. Professor of Clinical Psychology, Ritsumeikan University, Japan; President of the International Society for Psychotherapy Research

“I am confident that Ethics of Participatory Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy: Justice, Solidarity, and Care will prove a cherished resource, for students of research right through to seasoned academics. John and Julia McLeod connect with their audience through a direct and common-sense writing style, informed by a deep engagement with the experience of those whose project and program examples bring the book’s ideas to life. The pluralistic ethic advanced here is distinctive and offers a frame through which to capture the complexity of the moral landscapes researchers find themselves operating within.”

John Hills, Head of Programme for MSc/Dip Integrative Psychotherapy, Metanoia Institute, London

“An excellent resource for students, novice and experienced practitioners, researchers and policy makers. How can we involve non-professional people in the process of designing and conducting research? John and Julia McLeod’s book provides a series of chapters exploring various aspects of participatory research offering many examples and further reading in this field. Every chapter ends with questions for reflection and discussion (to consolidate ones reading, explore ideas in a reading group, discuss in classrooms). Some concepts that are elaborated and I have found profoundly important (and at times moving) are: resistance to systems of government and colonialist and capitalist exploitation, indigenous and affirming values, a more than human world that sustained all life, moral injury, counterstorytelling, power, privilege and inequality in academic research, democratization of the critical dialogical process inherent in the values of scientific research, ways of knowing in kinship with land and people, decolonizing research and practice, the problem with averages (much of existing privileged research) is that it conceals uniqueness and further ‘minoritizes’ and silences groups, overreliance on one’s perspective leads to silencing of voices with valuable insights. Participatory research has at its heart caring, kindness, honest and transparency. Learnings from this book can be incorporated into routine therapy practice offering new ways of working with clients damaged by social injustices. When participatory research qualities and concepts are embedded in practice, clients and groups can benefit hugely by being heard empowered and privileged in reconstructing and reclaiming their life stories. Participatory research has a pluralistic ethical stance where decision-making is negotiated considering values and traditions of communities. The book is beautifully written immediate and accessible to all readers. I wholeheartedly endorse this book and hope many people have the opportunity to read it”

Sophia Balamoutsou, Coach, Counsellor, Supervisor, Researcher, Trainer: Institute of Agri-Food and Life Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University Research Centre, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

“Ethics of Participatory Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy by John and Julia McLeod provides an informative and impressive overview of participatory research in relation to its findings, its methods, and the inevitable ethical challenges associated with it. They bring an ethics of solidarity and care into the research context together with the necessity of respect and equality at every step of the research process. Running through the book is sensitivity towards and practical concern with issues of power, and the abolition of colonialisation and marginalisation within research. The scope of this book goes beyond participatory research and speaks to decisive and necessary aspects of any research process: it should be on the desk of every researcher”

Rolf Sundet, Emeritus Professor, Centre for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, University of South-Eastern Norway

“Written by two of the most significant voices in modern counselling and psychotherapy, this book provides a much-needed resource for understanding not only the importance of participatory research in contemporary society, but how to undertake it. Readers will enjoy the highly engaging and accessible walk through key considerations and features of their approach, learning how meaningful research can be carried out ethically, relationally, and responsively, and serve to enrich our knowledge through a variety of perspectives: therapeutic, social, and cultural. It is a ground-breaking book, and an essential one for anyone wishing to undertake inclusive research with a pluralistic lens”

Kate Smith,Professor of Education., School of Education, University of Aberdeen