TY - JOUR
T1 - A pluralistic framework for counselling and psychotherapy
T2 - Implications for research
AU - Cooper, Mick
AU - McLeod, John
N1 - Funding Information:
With thanks to colleagues from the Tayside Centre for Counselling, Joe Armstrong, Lorna Carrick, Ewan Gillon, Stephen Goss, Julia McLeod and Alison Shoemark, for their contributions to the development of this framework.
Publisher Copyright:
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Copyright:
Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2007/9/1
Y1 - 2007/9/1
N2 - Historically, training, research and practice in counselling and psychotherapy have been dominated by unitary theoretical models. Although integrative and eclectic positions have been developed as alternatives, these have not been successful in generating research and have resulted in a further proliferation of competing models. In this paper we introduce a ‘pluralistic’ framework for counselling and psychotherapy and discuss the implications of this framework for research. The basic principle of this pluralistic framework is that psychological difficulties may have multiple causes and that there is unlikely to be one, ‘right’ therapeutic method that will be appropriate in all situations—different people are helped by different processes at different times. This pluralistic framework operates as a meta-theory within which it is possible to utilise concepts, strategies and specific interventions from a range of therapeutic orientations. The framework is structured around three domains—goals, task and methods—by which therapeutic processes can be conceptualised, critically examined and empirically investigated. These domains, and the relationships between them, are outlined and the collaborative relationship at the heart of the pluralistic framework is discussed. The pluralistic framework provides a means for empirical research directly to inform practice and potential lines of empirical inquiry are outlined, along with findings from a recent study of counselling in schools.
AB - Historically, training, research and practice in counselling and psychotherapy have been dominated by unitary theoretical models. Although integrative and eclectic positions have been developed as alternatives, these have not been successful in generating research and have resulted in a further proliferation of competing models. In this paper we introduce a ‘pluralistic’ framework for counselling and psychotherapy and discuss the implications of this framework for research. The basic principle of this pluralistic framework is that psychological difficulties may have multiple causes and that there is unlikely to be one, ‘right’ therapeutic method that will be appropriate in all situations—different people are helped by different processes at different times. This pluralistic framework operates as a meta-theory within which it is possible to utilise concepts, strategies and specific interventions from a range of therapeutic orientations. The framework is structured around three domains—goals, task and methods—by which therapeutic processes can be conceptualised, critically examined and empirically investigated. These domains, and the relationships between them, are outlined and the collaborative relationship at the heart of the pluralistic framework is discussed. The pluralistic framework provides a means for empirical research directly to inform practice and potential lines of empirical inquiry are outlined, along with findings from a recent study of counselling in schools.
U2 - 10.1080/14733140701566282
DO - 10.1080/14733140701566282
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85076855735
VL - 7
SP - 135
EP - 143
JO - Counselling and Psychotherapy Research
JF - Counselling and Psychotherapy Research
SN - 1473-3145
IS - 3
ER -