What support do therapists need to do research? A review of studies into how therapists experience research.

This paper addresses therapists’ experiences when ‘doing research’, with a special interest in their needs for support. It involves revisiting earlier studies into opportunities and obstacles - personally, professionally, and academically for psychotherapists and counselling psychologists (therapists) when transitioning to and from postgraduate research. How do therapists experience research; what motivates them to undertake doctoral research; how do they chose to generate knowledge and why; how will expectations meet outcomes? This ‘re-search’ approaches earlier studies with an interest in research support. It highlights significant personal, professional, and academic obstacles for therapists transitioning into research. Shame, isolation and poor opportunities to research and engage on academic platforms are some of the areas being referred to. Consistent with such needs, our pilot study into research supervision showed how supervisees rated ‘empathy’ as highly as ‘research experience’ for ‘constructive’ supervision. Our review involves a 'hybrid meta-synthesis' that combines autoethnographic and secondary analysis aims. It draws on own experience of grappling with methodological options as examples of how mixed methods study may ‘come about’ or develop as part of team research practice.