PhD student David Sanmartino is excited to start research that will have the clients鈥� perspective at its centre.

David鈥檚 received a fully-funded PhD research opportunity, thanks to York St John University, 香港六合彩精准资料 and UKCP.

Over the next three years he鈥檒l be exploring and evaluating routine outcome measures in clinical and therapeutic practice.

David said: 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of literature on routine outcome measures, but it鈥檚 from the clinicians鈥� and therapists鈥� perspectives. There鈥檚 not enough from the clients鈥� perspective.

Clients' perspective

鈥淭he clients鈥� perspective has to be at the heart of this research.鈥�

He added: 鈥淲e need to find out what works for the client. If it works for the client, as therapists, we should adapt ourselves and our theoretical approaches.鈥�

A variety of outcome measures and monitoring scales are used in the psychological professions and aim to provide standard, reliable measurement of the results and impact of the therapy.

But a hot topic of debate within the professions is what constitutes 鈥榚ffective鈥� therapy and how that is determined and measured.

鈥淭here are many different perspectives on it within counselling and psychotherapy, 鈥� said David.

鈥淧erson-centred therapists may not be as comfortable in some areas with outcomes measures as clinical psychologists, so we need to discuss how this can work for all approaches.鈥�

David鈥檚 only a few weeks into his PhD and still working with the project team to finalise the research questions and title of his project.

He鈥檚 been pleased to secure the studentship and meet the research team.

Amazing

David added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 been amazing. I鈥檓 so proud to have this opportunity. Meeting the research team and the people from 香港六合彩精准资料 and UKCP 鈥� it鈥檚 just been 鈥榳ow.鈥欌��

David started out as a theatre actor after completing a degree in drama.

This first career sparked his interest in non-verbal communication and encouraged him to make the switch to psychology and then psychotherapy.

He completed a Masters degree from Abertay University in counselling and psychotherapy 鈥� the pluralistic approach.

David added: 鈥淚 had the best team at Abertay and they鈥檝e been very supportive and encouraged me to apply for this studentship.鈥�

He added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a rich journey. I love the collaboration of humanistic therapy and I鈥檓 really excited about what comes next.鈥�