Research Study Exploring Mandatory Reporting of Childhood Abuse during Psychotherapy and Counselling

Thank you for your interest in this study and for taking the time to visit the site.

My name is Sharon Cunningham. I am undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Psychotherapy at Dublin City University. My research study focuses on how psychotherapy and counselling clients experience the mandatory report of their childhood abuse when it is disclosed during psychotherapy and counselling.

As a Chartered Counselling Psychologist, specialising in the field of trauma and abuse, and also as a mandated reporter for childhood abuse, I have extensive experience making mandated reports of childhood abuse that my clients disclose during therapy. However, I have often wondered what it is like for my clients and how they experience this process.

The published research into the area of mandatory reporting and psychotherapy is very limited and did not offer me any answers. The studies that are available explore the experience of the psychotherapists /counsellors and their perception of the experience of the psychotherapy client.

In this study, I want to hear directly from the psychotherapy and counselling clients. To explore their lived experience of the process of mandatory reporting of childhood abuse when it arises in psychotherapy and counselling. To give a voice to their experience directly.

If you or someone you know would be interested in participating in this study, you can contact me on 086 455 1186 or at sharon.cunningham35@mail.dcu.ie.

For counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists, if you have a client that you think might be interested in participating in this study, I would appreciate it if you could bring their attention to the study via this website and/or my contact details.

Please explore the site for more information about the study - see tabs/menu at the top of the screen.

Thanks for your time & interest.