U-PIC is a new therapy preference form developed at the University of Roehampton with a team of international researchers and young people from The McPin Foundation.

A Qualitative Study on the Lived Experiences of Young People Using Young Person’s Therapy Preference Measure 'U-PIC’.

 

Hi, I'm Charlotte, a qualified therapist (MBACP), a therapist to young people and trainee counselling psychologist at the University of Roehampton. I am carrying out research trialling U-PIC for my doctoral thesis.

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​Using therapy preferences is a way for young people to personalise their therapy, with research results showing that using preferences in therapy improves therapy outcomes.*  However, there isn't much research on what young people think about choosing preferences in therapy, which is where this study hopes to find some answers.

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U-PIC contains 12 questions on a scale of how much or how little young people want a therapy preference, and one open-ended question. For example, U-PIC asks the young person if they would prefer to use art in their sessions, who will set therapy goals, whether the young person prefers to be challenged to explore their thoughts and feelings (and how much),

or to take things at their own pace.

 

After the young person has used U-PIC twice in their therapy sessions, about four weeks apart, I will interview the young person afterwards. As a trainee counselling psychologist and therapist to young people, I am committed to creating a safe and welcoming space for young people to voice their opinions.

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After the second interview, I will email the young person (or their parent or guardian, if they are under 18 years old) their preferred choice of £30 gift voucher.

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This study has ethical approval under the procedures of the University of Roehampton’s Research Integrity and Ethics Committee, and is fully supervised by a Director of Studies and a Co-Director of Studies from the University of Roehampton. 

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Thank you very much for your  interest in helping young people shape their therapy, and I look forward to possibly working with you in the near future.

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Charlotte Zamani

Trainee counselling psychologist

zamanic@roehampton.ac.uk

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http://linkedin.com/in/charlotte-zamani-57a91724

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​*Reference: Using patient preferences to customise therapy - University of Roehampton Research Explorer