This Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study seeks to explore the lived experience of therapists who have hearing loss or identify as being hard of hearing.
If this describes you, and you interested in talking about your experience in training and client work, I would love to hear from you.
Participation Criteria
I am looking to interview qualified counsellors or psychotherapists who self-identify as hard of hearing, and who have had clinical experience working with clients who don’t have hearing loss. I do not specify your degree of hearing loss, or whether it is lifelong or acquired. You may or may not wear hearing aids.
Participants are required to be registered with a professional counselling organisation, trained to at least diploma level and practising in the UK.
What will participation involve?
The aim is to recruit 3–5 participants who have hearing loss. Interested parties will receive a participant information sheet and an informed consent form to sign, along with a debrief letter if they are happy to continue. Participants will be invited to take part in a recorded semi-structured interview, lasting approximately 60 minutes, online or face to face depending on your preference. The interview will be scheduled on a day and time chosen by you. You will have the chance to reflect on training, client work, and personal meaning-making, and an opportunity to contribute to greater understanding and inclusion within the profession.
Participants’ involvement and any information shared in this research will be kept confidential. Interviews will be audio recorded to ensure accuracy and later transcribed for analysis. All interviews will be confidential and interview data will be anonymised. Pseudonyms will replace identifiable information, and contextual details will be carefully reviewed to prevent inadvertent identity disclosure. Should you wish, a short 10 minute telephone conversation can be arranged to answer any of your questions.
About the research
This project seeks to better understand how hearing-loss is experienced within psychotherapy training and clinical practice, and how therapists make sense of this aspect of their professional and personal identity. I am conducting this research as part of my dissertation. Participation is entirely voluntary and participants can withdraw from the project at any time. This study has received approval from The Minster Centre’s Ethics Committee and will be conducted in accordance with BACP ethical guidelines for research.
Please note: interviews will be conducted in spoken English, not British Sign Language.
Access: if there’s anything that would make it easier for you to take part, please feel welcome to let me know — I’m happy to accommodate where I can.
To take part or for more information, please see here.
To view the participant information sheet, please see here.