ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that all research has the potential to be relational and useful for clinical practice. It presents an overview of research methodologies, their principles and design, and reflects on how they can be used in relational practice. Research is not often associated with relational psychotherapy. The gap between psychotherapy research and practice separates the two disciplines and has consequences for both. Although psychotherapists use clinical supervision to reflect on their practice, research methodologies contain strategies which can also deepen insight and develop practice. Overt evaluation of practice is also increasingly important as a way of evidencing effectiveness. Relational methodologies in psychotherapy research and the relevance of quantitative findings have a potential to bridge the research/practice gap and develop both clinical practice and its mainstream credibility. Qualitative and mixed methodologies lend themselves more easily to relational practice, because of their shared philosophy and the fact that they are usually conducted on small samples.
