Metanoia Institute Technology in Therapy Research Group
Metanoia Institute Technology in Therapy Research Group
Investigating technology in counselling, therapy and mental health
Chair: Dr Stephen Goss
Members: Dr Alistair McBeath
Dr Biljana van Rijn
Anastassia Gire
Dr Evi Chryssafidou
Description
The Technology in Therapy Research Group seeks to foster research into, and the development of, technologies of all kinds in facilitating therapeutic provision and/or mental health care.
The group will provide an umbrella structure to link, coordinate and facilitate research activities across Metanoia Institute and with other researchers and institutions. It will seek innovations in the uses of technologies in therapy and will also seek to further exploration of the potential and impact of established technologies. The group will seek to build on current activity in order to create new projects, develop synergies and facilitate mutual support through the cross-fertilisation of ideas and the sharing of complementary knowledge sets.
For the purposes of the group, “technology” is interpreted in its broad sense and can include non-digitised and off-line technologies as well as digital and Internet-facilitated approaches. For example, email, chat, instant messaging, video, stand-alone software, mobile phone apps, text messaging, virtual reality and the therapeutic use of media such as film and television, to name just some examples of the topics that would fall under this group’s remit, can be used to deliver or enhance safe, effective interventions with an impact and reach not always available through traditional means. The characteristics, opportunities, strengths and weaknesses of such technologies
The group does not take a position on whether any given technology is positive or otherwise for those who are impacted by it and projects may examine beneficial and/or undesirable aspects. Projects will be prioritised, where needs be, on the basis of their utility for practice in counselling, psychotherapy and mental health care and the impact they will bring for practitioners and clients. The group will seek to build constructive collaborations between organisations and across industry.
The Technology in Therapy Research Group invites internal and external researchers to take part in joint projects and to bring forward new research.
“From the caution employed (rightly) in the first decade of this century in the application of technology within counselling, psychotherapy and its associated professions … we have matured into no longer being surprised at its existence. … The global environment of society and how we relate to each other has changed fundamentally.” (Anthony, 2016, p. xvi)
Current projects
Dialogues with Fellow Travellers: Online psychotherapy for displaced individuals: Integrating quantitative and qualitative methods.
Lead researcher: Anastassia Gire – DPsych (Professional Studies)
Consultant: Dr Pratyusha Tummala-Narra
Advisor/supervisor: Dr Stephen Goss
Funding: self-funding through DPsych (Professional Studies)
Role: PI under supervision
2020 Therapy during social isolation. A mixed methods study into how therapists across modalities experience their clinical practice during the COVID-19 outbreak
PI: Dr Alistair McBeath
Previous relevant activity
Online counselling in schools as an additional option to face-to-face provision: Exploration of pupils’ experiences and comparison of effectiveness of working in different modalities.
Researcher: Jeanette Hennigan – DPsych (Professional Studies) (Submitted 2018; Awarded Derek Portwood Prize for outstanding contribution to professional practice, 2018/9)
Consultant: Dr Kate Anthony
Advisor/supervisor: Dr Stephen Goss
Funding: Self funding through DPsych (Professional Studies)
Role: PI under supervision
Avatar Based Counselling with Pro Real in Secondary Schools. Case Study
Grant Recipients: ProReal Ltd.
Funders: NHS Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare
Period: 2015-2016
Total Amount Awarded: £970 000
Metanoia Award: £15 400
Role: PI
Avatar Based Counselling with Pro Real in Secondary Schools. Evaluation
Grant Recipients: ProReal Ltd.
Funders: NHS Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare
Period: 2015-2016
Total Amount Awarded: £970 000
Metanoia Award: £38.302
Role: Research Associate
Avatar Based therapy within Prison Settings: Pilot Evaluation
Grant Recipients: ProReal Ltd.
Funders: NHS Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare
Period: 2013-2014
Total Amount Awarded: £150 000
Metanoia Award: £40 000
Role: PI
Publications
McBeath, A.G., du Plock, S., & Bager-Charleson, S. (2020) The challenges and experiences of psychotherapists working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. doi: 10.1002/capr.12326
van Rijn, B, Stiles, WB, Chryssafidou, E. Searching for safety: Building meaning bridges using digital imagery in school counselling with a female adolescent, ‘Sally’. Couns Psychother Res. 2020; 00: 1– 20. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12309
van Rijn, B, Chryssafidou, E, Falconer, CJ, Stiles, WB. (2019) Digital images as meaning bridges: Case study of assimilation using avatar software in counselling with a 14‐year‐old boy. Couns. Psychother. Res.. 2019; 00: 1– 12. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12230
Cooper, M., van Rijn, B., & Chryssafidou, E. (2018). Avatar-based counselling for psychological distress in secondary school pupils: pilot evaluation. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 1-14. doi:10.1080/03069885.2018.1506567
van Rijn, B., Cooper, M. and Chryssafidou, E. (2018), Avatar-based counselling for young people within school counselling. Qualitative analysis of client experience. Couns. Psychother. Res., 18: 59–70. doi: 10.1080/03069885.2018.1506567
Hennigan, J. and Goss, S. P. (2016), UK secondary school therapists' online communication with their clients and future intentions. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 16(3): 149–160.
Conferences
- Van Rijn, B., Chryssafidou, E. & Stiles, W.B. (2019) SPR UK and European Chapters, Krakow. Contrasting use of avatar-base software by two adolescents in school counselling:Theory-building cases studies on the assimilation model.
- Van Rijn, B. (2018) Metanoia Institute Research Academy. Developing use of creative media in psychotherapy. Case study research into avatar based therapy ‘Richard’, keynote
- Van Rijn, B., Falconer, C., Chryssafidou, E., Stiles, W.B (2017) Digital images as meaning bridges. Case study research into the use of avatar based software by adolescents in school counselling. SPR UK and European Chapters, 4th Joint Conference, Oxford, UK.
- Stiles, W.B., van Rijn, B., Falconer, C. (2017) Digital images as therapeutic meaning bridges: Use of avatars by a 14 year-old boy in school counselling. SPR 48th Annual International Meeting, Toronto,Canada
- Van Rijn,B.,Fa;Falconer,C.,Chryssafidou,E.,Stiles,B. (2017) Avatar Based Counselling for Young People. Case Study ‘Richard’. BACP Research Conference, Chester,UK
- Hennigan, J. & Goss, S. (2016). Online counselling in schools as an additional option to face-to-face (f2f) provision: Exploration of pupils’ experiences and comparison of working in different modalities. Brighton, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and Society for Psychotherapy Research Conference.
- Hennigan, J. & Goss, S. (2016). UK school therapists' online communication with their clients and future intentions. Brighton, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and Society for Psychotherapy International Research Conference.
Research reports and professional products
- Van Rijn,B., Falconer, C., Chryssafidou, E., Stiles, W.B. (2017) Avatar Based Counselling Within A School Setting. Case Study ‘Richard’. Research report. UK: Metanoia Institute, Nottingham University and University of Roehampton and US: Miami University.
- Cooper, M., Chryssafidou, E., van Rijn, B. (2016). ProReal Avatar based counselling with Young People: Evaluation report University of Roehampton and Metanoia Institute.
- Van Rijn, B., Cooper, M., & Wild, C. (2014). ProReal-based therapy within a prison setting. Evaluation report. London: Metanoia Institute and University of Roehampton.
- Anthony, K. & Hennigan, J. (2018) Online Therapy Institute Training (OTI) Course: Certified Cyber Therapist – Young People (CCT-YP). Available at https://www.kateanthony.net/cyp-cct/
Planned outputs
- McBeath, A.G., du Plock, S., & Bager-Charleson, S. (2020) The challenges and experiences of psychotherapists working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic.
Conference presentation. FACING COVID-19 & BEYOND Virtual IMEC International Meaning Conference 25 July 2020
- Gire, A. (in preparation) Dialogues with Fellow Travellers. Online psychotherapy for displaced individuals: Integrating quantitative and qualitative methods. London: Routledge.
References
Anthony, K. (2016). Introduction. In: S. Goss, K. Anthony, L.S. Stretch and D.M. Nagel (Eds) Technology in Mental Health: Applications in Practice, Supervision and Training. Springfield, Il.: CC Thomas.