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Mia Bennion
Previously a Psychological Well-being Practitioner (PWP), I am currently conducting a PhD at the University of Manchester, supervised by Prof. Penny Bee, Prof. Karina Lovell and Dr Amy Blakemore. The PhD is focused on enhancing engagement with between-session work (or homework) in Low Intensity (LI) CBT-based interventions. This study is the qualitative phase within the project.
Brief outline of the study
Typically provided at the ‘Step 2’ level of the service and delivered by PWPs, many individuals referred into IAPT services are offered LI interventions to manage their difficulties in the first instance. Given the shorter treatment sessions and reduced practitioner input involved in LI interventions, clients are encouraged to conduct a substantial amount of therapeutic work outside of treatment sessions in the form of between-session work. These activities allow clients to transfer skills learnt in therapy sessions into everyday life where presenting problems naturally occur.
Previous research has shown that when clients engage well with between-session work during therapy, treatment outcomes are enhanced, and symptoms are greater reduced. Yet concerningly client engagement between sessions appears to vary and lack of engagement with between-session work is commonly reported.
To enhance engagement between sessions, it is essential to understand client and practitioner attitudes and experiences regarding between-session work, including factors which they feel may help or hinder between session engagement.
What would my involvement be?
Participants will be asked to take part in a one-off semi-structured interview lasting up to 60 minutes. The interview can take place at a time most convenient for you and can be conducted online over Zoom/Microsoft Teams, over the phone or face-to-face. Interviews will explore applied definitions, attitudes and barriers/facilitators to between session engagement.
Who is eligible to take part in the study?
Practitioners who deliver LI interventions at the Step 2 level of an IAPT service are eligible to take part, this mainly includes PWPs and Trainee PWPs. Professionals who supervise Step 2 practitioners are also eligible to take part in the study, this includes both case management and clinical skills supervisors.
Clients over the age of 16 who have received LI treatment within an IAPT service are eligible (clients are only required to have attended at least one LI treatment session). This includes individual treatment delivered face-to-face or remotely via telephone/online. Those who have engaged with a group intervention are not eligible. Non-English speakers are eligible to take part in the study. We can provide translated study documents and offer interviews facilitated by an interpreter speaking the language of choice.
Will I be compensated for taking part?
Clients will receive a £20 gift voucher, practitioners will receive a certificate of involvement in a qualitative interview for research (possibly for CPD records).
If you’re interested in taking part or have any questions, please contact me via any of the methods below;
Email: mia.bennion@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
Phone: 07933 611 477
Mia Bennion, The University of Manchester, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, Jean McFarlane Building (6th Floor), Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL
Study end date - 1 June 2023