Counselling and Psychotherapy Research
Practice-based evidence in school-based counselling
Abstracts
Aims: Counsellors are becoming commonplace within the support structures of secondary schools. To date, research findings from practice-based outcome studies suggest this is a positive move. There are, however, numerous limitations to this work, and this project aims to develop this existing body of literature. Method: Nine 13-15 year olds attending counselling in six school-based services participated in the project - one individual withdrew. A standardised self-report questionnaire (YP-CORE) was collected at four intervals: (1) the point of referral; (2) the onset of counselling; (3) the completion of counselling; and, (4) a two-month follow-up. The change indicated in each of these phases is examined and reported here. Additionally, YP-CORE was completed during each session. Findings: The YP-CORE indicates an improvement in the well-being of this small sample, while waiting for and attending therapy. Further examination of session- by-session data also highlights how pre- and post-outcome data should not necessarily be viewed as linear in nature. Discussion: This is a small-scale investigation and further work is needed in this area. It does, however, raise a number of issues regarding the complexity inherent in conducting outcome research that warrant further investigation.
Keywords | |
Journal |
Counselling and Psychotherapy Research
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Author | |
Year of Publication |
2011
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Volume |
11
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Number of Pages |
300-309,
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ISSN Number |
1473-3145
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DOI |
10.1080/14733145.2010.533778
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