noticeboard: archive

Counselling in the workplace: the facts
A Systematic Study of the Research Evidence

By Professor John McLeod
School of Social and Health Sciences
University of Abertay, Dundee

This report is the first in a series of new systematic research studies commissioned and published by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. The author, Professor John McLeod, has carried out a thorough search of all the English language research ever carried out into counselling in the workplace.

With this comprehensive, 128-page report it is now possible to gain access to the whole body of research into the outcomes that can be achieved, the cost benefits of employee counselling, the evidence for different strategy provisions, and more. There is also a wealth of information about the characteristics of counselling services for employees, the processes involved and the utilisation of these services.

The literature surveyed includes material from a wide range of disciplines: counselling, psychotheraphy, psychology, sociology, management studies and occupational health.

The report provides critical summaries for each research study, organised under aims, method, sample characteristics, type of counselling, organisational context, and results. Professor McLeod draws conclusions from all the studies reviewed, enabling definitive statements to be made about what research does and does not demonstrate right now in this field.

Over 80 studies provide evidence based on the experiences of over 10,000 clients over more than 45 years. Of the studies at the highest band of methodological rigour - in this instance defined in deliberately pluralist terms - none reported negative outcome effects associated with the counselling services studied, and only two were equivocal.

This report is intended for purchasers of workplace counselling and psychotherapy practitioners and administrators, personnel officers, researchers, and indeed for all those who see the potential workplace counselling may offer in facilitating positive change in the individual to the benefit both of the individual and the organisation.

"There is strong evidence that workplace counselling has a beneficial effect on psychological symptoms, on well being and on sickness absence"

"...in the 'best evidence' category, 11 from 16 studies present a picture of workplace counselling as highly effective."

To download a free sample section of this publication click here

To order this publication from the BACP Shop click here

back to top

In this section:
noticeboard: current | bacp awards 2007 | london marathon 2007 | noticeboard: archive | gift aid | charity commission report | membership fees explained | helpdesk & surgeries information