ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the recursive themes of formulation, intervention, and evaluation. It presents systemic formulation as a case study approach to practice-based evidence. The collaborative approaches promoted within these pages parallel Department of Health research directives concerning user involvement in evaluation research. Arguably, a systemic approach helps one’s move beyond paying lip service to collaboration if formulation itself can be shown to be collaborative in nature. The rapprochement with social constructionist critiques recognizes that formulation is not a static, one-size-fits-all process. The fit between understanding and practice is systemic at its heart. Feedback from clients and clinical experience informs thinking in a recursive loop with practice. This resembles a completed audit cycle in which a summary of the findings are presented back to service providers and users, changes are made to service delivery, feedback is elicited and presented back, and so on into another cycle.
