Re-searching for therapy: the ethics of using what we are skilled in

Mcandrew, S; Warne, T

Abstract

Narrative inquiry as a qualitative research method appears to be growing in popularity amongst mental health nurses. This paper argues that there are a number of parallels
between narrative inquiry and psychotherapy, and mental health nurses familiar with the practice of therapeutic engagement need to be mindful of these when using this
approach to research. The symbiotic relationship between those engaged in narrative inquiry and those engaged in psychotherapeutic practice is explored in order to
provide greater understanding of some of the ethical issues involved and how new researchers, supervisors and practitioners might better respond to the complexities
inherent in using narrative inquiry which may itself be therapeutic. Our focus for this paper is the tensions experienced by the mental health nurse whilst working as a
researcher when the research encounter provides a trigger that would normally elicit a therapeutic response for both participant and nurse. Using a selection of psychoanalytic theories and principles this paper explores the relationship between the processes of psychotherapy and narrative inquiry. This discussion paper is based on
the authors’ own research experiences of using narrative inquiry to explore a number of sensitive issues and many years of supervisory relationships with students and
practitioners alike.

Citation

Mcandrew, S., & Warne, T. (2010). Re-searching for therapy: the ethics of using what we are skilled in. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 17(6), 503-509. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2009.01545.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2010
• Deposit Date: May 13, 2011
• Journal: Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
• Print ISSN: 1351-0126
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 503-509
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2009.01545.x
• Keywords: Clinical supervision, ethics, narratives, therapeutic relationships, qualitative methodology
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2009.01545.x