This research is based on nine interviews with counsellors and psychotherapists about their experience and understanding of pluralistic approaches to therapy with particular reference to their own practice. I have coded the interviews using thematic analysis rooted in an interpretive interactionist methodology.
Pluralism in therapy is an important contemporary issue that provokes many questions including: Can practitioners offer a pluralistic therapy that is philosophically coherent? Is the pluralistic encouragement of client choice and collaboration in the practice and provision of therapy a good idea? Is the pluralistic agenda really for itself or actually against the hegemonic rise of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)?
The interviews provided rich data which I expect to be a useful contribution to this topic in counselling and psychotherapy.