On being a university student in therapy: Student client views on how therapy can help

Ramsey-Wade, Christine

Abstract

Background: Historically, the client's experience of therapy has not featured centrally in psychological research. Research into student mental health shares this past bias towards the practitioner's viewpoint. While some research has been carried out into the process and outcome of therapy within some university counselling services, more is needed.

Aims: This study aims to explore further the experience of undergoing therapy, as well as the experience of undergoing therapy and a university degree at the same time. Specifically, this study will seek to discover students' views on what impact, if any, undergoing therapy while studying has on their efforts to adequately complete their degree.

Method: In order to capture the students' experiences, a qualitative, phenomenological research design has been employed. Eight co-researchers with experience of undergoing therapy while studying for a degree are being recruited by letter for semi-structured interviews. The interview material will be analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, in order to ensure that the distilled themes remain true to the participants' material.

Results: Themes which have already arisen from the first four interviews are around driving factors and obstacles to seeking therapy, how clients feel therapy works, their experience of therapy, its outcomes, and how therapy assists students with their studies. This presentation will provide more detail on the themes that emerged from the interviews as well as describe further the design, analysis and results.

Conclusions: Possible implications from this exploratory study for practice within university counselling services and for our understanding of how therapy works generally will be discussed.

Citation

Ramsey-Wade, C. (2005, May). On being a university student in therapy: Student client views on how therapy can help. Paper presented at BACP Research Conference 2005, Nottingham

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: BACP Research Conference 2005
• Conference Location: Nottingham
• Start Date: May 20, 2005
• End Date: May 21, 2005
• Publication Date: May 1, 2005
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 9, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: university student, therapy
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1050076
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : BACP Research Conference 2005