Counselling
The current and long-standing research interests of this sub-theme reside in the following areas:
The role of spirituality in counselling, psychotherapy, education and pastoral care
Apart from researches into spirituality and therapy (West 1995, 1998) we are developing research into spirituality in education including a project exploring prayer groups in secondary schools (West, Lennie, and Clark ongoing).
The training, supervision and professional development of therapists
An interest in training and supervision of therapists arose from Dr William West PhD studies (1995) which revealed supervision and training issues and from Dr Henry Hollanders' PhD studies into integration in counselling (1997). We have developed this since in post doctoral studies which includes being the first researcher in Britain to focus on what actually happens in counselling supervision using video (West and Clark, 2004).
Culture, human lives and therapy
Living in a multi cultural society and supervising PhD students from many parts of the world has led us to explore how counselling varies in cultures and sub cultures (see for example West's book (2005) on traditional healing practices and counselling) and the different ways different groups of people deal with human experiences, for example, 'Counselling and armed conflict' special issue of the British Journal of Guidance and Counselling (2003) which West edited.
Research methodologies that are congruent with therapeutic practice
Academic study and research into counselling is still comparatively recent and there is an ongoing debate about research methodology appropriate to counselling. We have played a significant role in this debate via conference presentations, publications (e.g. West 1998, 2001, West and Mansor, 2002), and West's service as Special Adviser on Research to BACP.