Using Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy - Practical

In this review of Using Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy the bottom line is clear: this is a thoughtful, practical guide for trainees and practising clinicians who want to bring evidence into everyday therapeutic work. John McLeod concentrates on how research informs policy, therapy process, and client understanding, and the book's single biggest reason to buy is its consistent focus on practical application of research to improve practice rather than on technical methodology alone. This review finds the text readable, broadly applicable across counselling and psychotherapy training, and useful for building professional competence.

Key Features

• Practical orientation: Chapters show how to apply research findings to therapy practice so clinicians can improve decision making with clients.
• Scope of use: The book covers research at individual, organisational and policy levels, helping readers see multiple ways research matters.
• Client-focused tools: Discussion of client feedback methods provides direct approaches clinicians can adopt to enhance outcomes.
• Training resource: Content is organised to support counselling, psychotherapy and counselling psychology courses and the development of professional competencies.
• Accessible writing: The author explains research knowledge, values and skills in a way that is suitable for both practitioners and researchers.

Who It's For

Using Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy is best for trainees on counselling and psychotherapy courses who need a text that links research to competencies and practice. It is also well suited to practising therapists and counselling psychologists who want a concise refresher on how research can inform therapy process, client feedback, and organisational practice.

Those looking for a technical manual on advanced research methods or detailed statistical instruction should look elsewhere; the book emphasises interpretation and application rather than exhaustive methodology or complex quantitative procedures.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear focus on practical application helps clinicians bring research into everyday practice.
• Useful coverage of client feedback and making sense of other lives supports more responsive therapy.
• Works well as a training text, aligning with professional competency development.

Cons

• Not a substitute for a comprehensive research methods textbook, so readers needing technical detail may find it limited.

Specifications

Title	Using Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Author	John McLeod
Audience	Trainees, practitioners, researchers in counselling and psychotherapy
Focus areas	Therapy process, outcomes, client feedback, policy and organisations
Use in training	Supports counselling, psychotherapy and counselling psychology courses
Primary approach	Application of research to practice and professional development

Our Verdict

Using Research in Counselling and Psychotherapy is a practical, readable resource that bridges research and clinical work; trainees and practising clinicians will find it good value because it emphasises usable approaches such as client feedback and organisational application rather than technical detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for a counselling training course?
Yes. The book is written to support counselling, psychotherapy and counselling psychology courses and to help develop professional competencies.

Does it teach research methods in depth?
No. It focuses on how to use research in practice and policy rather than providing exhaustive methodological instruction.

Will practising therapists gain useful tools?
Yes. Chapters on client feedback and using research to understand therapy process offer directly applicable tools for everyday practice.