Samantha Crapnell Reflects on Impact and Collaboration at BACP 2025

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Friday 16th May 2025 marked the 31st British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Annual International Research Conference, and our very own Samantha Crapnell headed to Manchester to soak up the learning. Although this was the third BACP Research Conference she has attended, it was the first time she put her name forward to present.

 

Back in 2024, Sam responded to a call for panellists from Dr Mick Cooper, renowned for his work on pluralistic perspectives in counselling and psychotherapy. She was selected to join a panel discussion titled ‘It’s Hot and Getting Hotter’, alongside Dr Faisal Mahmood and Dr Ariana Jordan of the Metanoia Institute. 

 

Being invited to speak at such a prestigious event was a proud and significant moment in Sam’s professional journey, a unique opportunity to share insights on a national stage and engage with leading voices in the field. It marked not only a personal achievement, but also a chance to contribute to vital conversations shaping the future of counselling and psychotherapy.

 

Far from being about the current heatwave, the panel explored the rapidly changing world and how global issues are impacting the wellbeing of our communities. These include the shifting narratives and legislations affecting LGBTQAI+ and neurodivergent communities, the growing concerns around climate change, displacement, the mental health crisis, populism, and austerity.

 

These global issues affect everyone, and they frequently find their way into the counselling room, whether explicitly through client narratives or implicitly in the emotional undercurrents. Importantly, they influence both the therapeutic participants and the counsellors themselves. This dual impact was a key theme discussed by the panel.

 

The conversation recognised that such topics could feel too big to tackle within the confines of a therapy session, and yet there’s often a deep sense of responsibility and urgency among practitioners to do something. The reality is that meaningful action often requires stepping beyond the therapy room; to make a difference at a policy level, we must understand the language and the processes.

 

Sam says, "Discussions in our group helped me to recognise how many practitioners at all levels in their career wish that they could do more but sometimes do not know if their research will have the impact that they hope for."

 

The theme of the two-day conference was ‘Impact Through Collaboration’, and it featured a wide range of presentations from researchers and researcher-practitioners. This showcased cutting-edge research, designed not just to enhance understanding but to actively shape policy and practice in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. The presentations reflected collaborative efforts to ensure that research is impactful, accessible, and rooted in the lived realities of diverse communities.

 

Keynote speaker Dr Divine Churura had spoken earlier in the day about the role of hope in addressing social justice challenges. During the panel discussion, Dr Mahmood reflected on the sheer scale of what’s happening in the world. Dr Jordan highlighted the many opportunities for research. Then Sam shared the tensions that counsellors often hold, wanting to engage more deeply with these issues, yet sometimes needing to step back for the sake of our own psychological and emotional wellbeing.

 

This led to a rich and thoughtful conversation among the panel, counselling students, qualified practitioners, researchers, and BACP representatives about what could be possible. There was a shared belief that, with hope, knowledge, and a collective voice, research can be created and shared in ways that support the development of more just societies locally, nationally, and globally.

 

One significant point raised during discussions was the need to understand the language and processes involved in influencing policy if we want to make a difference at a systemic level. Without this understanding, even the most passionate advocacy risks being unheard. This call for action underlined the importance of equipping practitioners not just with clinical tools but with the knowledge to contribute meaningfully to broader conversations.

 

In recognition of the value of wider access to research that informs counselling practice, Sam is now seeking contributors for her new discussion series, ‘Training for Counsellors: In Conversation With...’ This upcoming resource, designed for counsellors, clinical supervisors and educators, will be shared via our website and YouTube channel.

 

"In researching for the discussion, I learned considerations for how systematic research could have the potential to make impact at organisational, community or national level. This learning has already been helpful in providing clarity and direction for my own research and has helped enhance training we can provide at Training for Counsellors going forwards,” says Sam.

 

If you are a counsellor or a psychotherapist researcher who would like to talk about your own research, chat with Sam about getting involved at info@training-for-counsellors.co.uk

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