1.         Research Project Title:

ACORN (Alternative counselling and psychotherapy online research network) project

2.         Invitation paragraph

You are being invited to take part in a research project. Before you decide it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Ask us if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Take time to decide whether or not you wish to take part. Thank you for reading this.

3.         What is the purpose of the project?

The study is being carried out by a group of existential counsellors who are interested to know that are the effects of this type of counselling..

4.         Why have I been chosen?

You have been chosen because you have recently completed, or are about to complete, a course of existential counselling or psychotherapy which has lasted at least six months.  Your counsellor or therapist has agreed to assist in the project and will have sent on this information to you. 

5.         Do I have to take part?

Your contact details will have not have been passed on to the research team, until you choose to contact us.  Only your therapist or counsellor knows that you have been contacted.  It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. Refusal to take part will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.  If you do decide to take part you will be given this information sheet to keep (and be asked to sign a consent form). If you decide to take part you are still free to withdraw at any time, without penalty or loss of benefits, and without giving a reason.

6.         What will happen to me if I take part?

If you do decide to take part, you are asked to complete the enclosed questionnaire and to return it in the stamped addressed envelope to the coordinator of the research, Professor Digby Tantam at the University of Sheffield.  You are also asked to complete and return the enclosed consent form, If you agree, and send us back a signed consent form, one of the research partners (their names and contact details are given on the bottom of this sheet) will contact you and ask you if you would be willing to be interviewed about the counselling and its impact on your life.

The interview would be arranged at a time convenient to you, and in a convenient place, which might be your home, your counsellor’s office, or another place if you would prefer this. The interview would be recorded.

7.         What are the possible benefits of taking part?

Some people find that talking over an experience like counselling helps them to understand better what has happened, and may even increase the benefit of the counselling.  However this does not happen in every case.

Even if there is no immediate benefit to you, it is hoped that this work will help us to understand what does help people most in existential counselling, and therefore to improve this counselling in the future.

8.         What if something goes wrong?

We do not expect that the interview will be stressful, but if you do find you are becoming upset you should let the interviewer know immediately.  He or she is an experienced counsellor and will take steps to help you deal with your distress.  You have the right to terminate the interview at any stage.  If you have a complaint about the conduct of the interview or any other aspect of the study you can write to Dr. David Fletcher, the Registrar of the University of Sheffield, who will fully investigate your complaint.

9.         Will my taking part in this project be kept confidential?

All information which is collected about you during the course of the research will be kept strictly confidential. Your former counsellor or therapist will not be told of your involvement in the study or given any information about what you said about your counselling. Any information about you which is disseminated will have your name and address removed so that you cannot be recognised from it.’

10.       What will happen to the results of the research project?

The results of the research will be published (we will, of course, make sure that you cannot be identified in any publication).  We will NOT be providing specific feedback to your counsellor or therapist.  A synopsis of the results will be provided on our website, www.existentialpsychotherapy.net.

11.       Who is organising and funding the research?

The research is being organized by the Existential Counselling Outcome Research Network (ECORN).

ECORN members are:

The project has the support of the Society for Existential Analysis.

12.       Who has reviewed the project?

The project has been submitted to the University of Sheffield’s Research Ethics Committee for approval

13.       Contact for further information

For further information, look at our website at www.icecao.org.uk or contact the ACORN administrator:

Prof. Digby Tantam

Dilemma Consultancy Ltd

27 Brocco Bank

Sheffield

Tel 0114 266 0543

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