Phenomenology for Therapists

Linda Finlay is a freelance Consultant offering training and mentorship on how to apply qualitative research in health care. In addition to her psychotherapy practice, she also teaches psychology and writes with the Open University. Her books include Groupwork in Occupational Therapy (1993), The Practice of Psychosocial Occupational Therapy (3rd edition, 2004), Qualitative Research for Health Professionals: Challenging Choices (ed. with C. Ballinger, Wiley Publishers, 2006), and Relational-Centred Research for Psychotherapists (with K. Evans, Wiley-Blackwell, 2009).

“As a dominantly clinical practitioner who nonetheless retains an active interest in research, and particularly phenomenological research, I found this book both useful and informative.”  (The Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology, 1 May 2013) “Phenomenology – when it is done well –discloses, transforms and inspires. That is why it excites me, why I am passionate about it . . .  Fortunately, this does not need to stand in the way of readers making use of this otherwise excellent book in their own way and for their own practice-relevant research needs.”  (Counselling Psychology Review, 2 June 2012)"The many current research examples provide a useful and easy-to-read description of what is possible in phenomenological research. This book is a wonderful addition to qualitative methodology texts and I would recommend it as a standard text for anyone considering counselling/ psychotherapy research." (Therapy Today, 1 December 2011)

• About the Author vii Preface ixPart I The Phenomenological Project: Concepts, Theory and Philosophy 1Introduction to Part I 31 Phenomenology: Bridging the Practice–Research Divide? 52 The Phenomenological Project 153 The Body in Lived Experience 294 Philosophical Foundations 435 The 'Phenomenological Attitude' 73Part II Phenomenological Research Approaches 85Introduction to Part II 876 Descriptive Empirical Phenomenology 937 Hermeneutic Phenomenology 1098 Lifeworld Approaches 1259 Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis 13910 First-Person Approaches 149 11 Reflexive-Relational Approaches 159Part III PhenomenologicalMethods in Practice 177Introduction to Part III 17912 Planning the Research 18113 Gathering Data 19714 Relational Ethics 21715 The Process of Analysing Data 22716 Producing the Research 24717 Evaluating Research 261Appendix 273References 275Index 295