Sections on this page

1. Completing the submission form - standard information
2. Research paper (online or in-person)
3. Discussion (in-person only)
4. Methods workshop (in-person only)
5. Lightning talk (online or in-person)
6. Poster (online or in-person)
7. Symposium (online or in-person)
8. Online submission form
9. What happens next? 
10. See also: Research awards and grants, BACP Research Conference and Promoting research

The theme for this year’s Research Conference is: Impact through collaboration. We welcome submissions that address this theme and which address collaborative working in research. This might include co-construction or collaboration with research participants as people with lived experience.

By lived experience, we mean people who have lived experience of using, delivering or training in, counselling, psychotherapy or coaching services. This is in addition to those who are able to draw on the experience of living with or caring for someone else using similar services. We recognise that terminology in relation to people with lived experience is evolving regularly and that preferred terms can vary (e.g., Patient and Public Involvement (PPI), Client Involvement, Experts by Experience, etc).

We’re also keen to highlight inter-, multi- or trans-disciplinary research which involves one or more disciplines or fields outside of counselling, psychotherapy or coaching which might support the counselling professions. Any research submitted under this theme would need to clearly outline the implications for counselling, psychotherapy or coaching practice. 

Submissions to conference are also open to those whose research activities do not readily meet the conference theme, but whose work contributes to the evidence base for counselling, psychotherapy or coaching.

Online submission form

An abstract is required for every submission type for consideration and assessment by the peer review panel. We accept submissions for research papers and symposia, discussions (in-person event only), methods workshops (in-person event only), lightning talks and poster presentations. It's no longer a requirement to use a structured abstract for your submission. However, we strongly recommend that your abstract addresses each of the assessment criteria listed under the appropriate section, below, as these will be considered by the panel during peer review to assess quality and rigour.

We welcome abstract submissions demonstrating rigorous use of any methodology and theoretical orientation, from students, practitioners and experienced researchers alike. All submission types other than discussion and methods workshops can be delivered either online or in-person.

All empirical research presentations must include a statement of ethical approval for the research.

We also ask that submissions demonstrate consideration of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) informing either the research design and process, the research limitations or that the research findings could have future implications for EDI within the counselling, psychotherapy and coaching professions. EDI issues include, but are not limited to, issues of age, disability, gender, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race and ethnicity, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation, and wider inclusion issues such as language, learning style, class and socio-economic background, education level and any other relevant factor.

All abstracts must be submitted through our online submission form. We’ve developed the online form to be as straightforward as possible, but if you do have any difficulties accessing or using it, please contact us at research.conference@bacp.co.uk

You should also read the Terms and conditions.

To be successful, your abstract should be written in an appropriately formal and scholarly way that successfully conveys the quality and rigour of your project. It may be written in the third person ("The researcher…") or the first person ("I…" or "We…"), depending on what's appropriate for the specific methodological approach taken in your research.

We strongly recommend that you prepare your submission in a text document before you complete the form so that you have all the relevant information to hand.

The conference is a not-for-profit event, and all presenters and delegates (both online and in-person) are required to pay a delegate fee and are responsible for their travel and accommodation expenses. The attendance fees for 2025 are still to be confirmed, however it's anticipated that online attendance will attract a lower fee rate than in-person conference attendance.

1. Completing the submission form - standard information

When you complete the online form, you'll be asked for the following standard information:

  • your details:
    - your name
    - email address for correspondence
    - email address for inclusion in the abstract booklet (optional)
    - telephone number (for use by our office only)
    - affiliation and professional role
  • names of any co-presenters or co-authors
  • title of your session
  • main abstract text 

We ask for your name, email address and telephone number so that we can contact you about your submission for the conference. We'll only use this information to contact you about your submission and won't share it with any third parties unless you give consent for us to do so in the submission form.

You'll also optionally be asked whether the research was conducted when you were a student or trainee and whether you’re from a marginalised racial community. This is so that we can assess your eligibility for specific research awards.

All submissions should be a maximum of 400 words (excluding title and sub-headings). Please do not include a reference list in your submission. Please provide citations as necessary and appropriate, and note that these should be included in the word count. Please do not include any tables or figures in your submission. We recommend writing your abstract in a word processor such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs or Pages (Mac), and then copying and pasting it into the online submission portal at the appropriate section.

Submissions overview

2. Research paper (online or in-person)

Research paper presentations are an opportunity to share your research with peers and colleagues, particularly the findings and implications of your work for counselling, psychotherapy and coaching practice. New presenters may find our Presenter tips (pdf 134KB) helpful.

This format is suitable for researchers to present research projects which are complete or will have preliminary findings (at a minimum) to share by the time of the presentation. Where preliminary or final findings are not ready at the time of abstract submission, it should be stated clearly in the abstract that preliminary or final findings will be ready for and included in the conference presentation. Accepted papers are given a 30 minute time slot, which should include a 20 to 25 minute presentation and five to 10 minutes for questions and discussion.

Research paper presentations cannot be used for data collection by presenters.

You don't need to structure your abstract using headings, but you should ensure your abstract includes the following areas which will be assessed at peer review:

  1. That the topic is relevant to counselling, psychotherapy or coaching research or multi/trans-disciplinary research within mental health
  2. Clear research aims and purpose
  3. Appropriate methods which are clearly described
  4. That ethical approval has been granted for the research
  5. Well-presented summary of results if available or, if not, clear statement that preliminary or final findings will be ready for and included in the conference presentation
  6. Limitations of the research specific to the research conducted (rather than generic methodological limitations, for example)
  7. Appropriate conclusions and implication for practice which are clearly drawn from the results
  8. That consideration has been given to issues of equality, diversity and inclusion

3. Discussion (in-person only)

A discussion is an opportunity to facilitate an exploration of views on a topic with in-person delegates by initially presenting either: a single piece of research-related work; a body of related works; or a research dilemma or question, from which you wish to generate discussion and ideas with delegates. Ideally you should present delegates with some questions to consider which will help to structure the discussion. We offer discussions of either 30 or 60 minutes and you'll be asked to state a preference at the point of submission. Please note that time allocation depends on the outcome of peer review as well as space on the programme and we cannot guarantee the availability of a 60 minute slot.

The discussion format allows researchers to engage peers in discussion and debate by presenting an overview of research from which they have identified issues and questions relevant to the counselling, psychotherapy and coaching research community, such as trends in research focus, gaps in activity or methodological developments.

The 30 minute slot should consist of no more than 15 minutes of presentation with the remaining time used to facilitate discussion, debate and questions with delegates.

The 60 minute slot should consist of no more than 30 to 40 minutes of presentation with the remaining time used to facilitate discussion. Discussion presentations cannot be used for data collection by presenters.

You don't need to structure your abstract using headings, but you should cover the following areas which will be assessed at peer review:

  1. The background and context for the discussion topic, drawing on relevant literature and demonstrating relevance to counselling, psychotherapy or coaching research or to multi/trans-disciplinary research within mental health
  2. Discussion points, including questions for the audience to consider, are clearly articulated and relevant to the issue presented for discussion. It's helpful to include starting points and specific questions within your abstract
  3. Audience – which group or groups from among our delegates would benefit from attending and contributing to the session?
  4. Consideration given to issues of equality, diversity and inclusion
  5. Citations of relevant research literature (please use appropriately and don't include a full reference list, as this would count towards the 400 word limit)

4. Methods workshop (in-person only)

Methods workshops are an opportunity for researchers in the field to contribute to the development of research knowledge and skills in trainees, practitioners and other researchers. They should introduce a particular method of data collection, analysis or way of working, which can include a focus on the ethics involved with researching a particular topic or population. Accepted methods workshops are given a 60 minute time slot.

Workshops should provide opportunities for practical and experiential learning by including exercises or learning materials that allow delegates to practise the method presented. The learning should be rooted in up-to-date research examples of the method presented.

Workshops cannot be used for data collection by presenters or facilitators.

You don't need to structure your abstract using headings, but you should cover the following areas which will be assessed at peer review:

  1. The workshop topic, clearly demonstrating relevance to research methods in counselling, psychotherapy or coaching research or to multi/trans-disciplinary research within mental health
  2. Clear learning outcomes that are relevant to the chosen topic. Please see Guidance on writing learning outcomes (pdf)
  3. A brief summary of the planned content of the workshop – what different activities will form the workshop and how will it aid learning? For instance, will there be experiential exercises, opportunities to practise new methods, discussion of strengths and weaknesses of the approach?
  4. Details of how the workshop will be structured to ensure the learning outcomes are met
  5. Audience – which group or groups from among our delegates would benefit from attending and participating in the session?
  6. Considerations given to issues of equality, diversity and inclusion

5. Lightning talk (online or in-person)

Lightning talks are intended particularly as learning opportunities for both presenter and audience. They can be used as an opportunity to present early development work of a research project in order to gain friendly constructive feedback from peers and colleagues. This format is ideal for anyone doing counselling or psychotherapy research that is yet to have findings and who would like feedback on developing ongoing work. Alternatively, the lightning talk format can be used for completed research by anyone who prefers not to present a full 30 minute paper.

Accepted lightning talks each have a 15 minute slot, which should include a presentation of 10 minutes and five minutes for questions or discussion. Lightning talks are normally grouped together on the programme to be part of a larger session.

Lightning talk presentations cannot be used for data collection by presenters.

You don't need to structure your abstract using headings, but you should cover the following areas which will be assessed at peer review:

  1. The aims and purpose of your research, demonstrating relevance to counselling, psychotherapy or coaching research or to multi/trans-disciplinary research within mental health
  2. The methods (including analyses) should be appropriate and clearly described
  3. Ethical approval – who gave ethical approval for the research or where will ethical approval be applied for? If ethical approval is not required for any reason, please explain this in the abstract
  4. If the research is complete, please briefly summarise the main findings
  5. If the research is in preliminary stages, please state challenges or areas for feedback that you would wish to discuss with the audience
  6. Areas of learning – what have you learned in conducting this research, whether complete or incomplete and how might this be relevant to the conference audience?
  7. Consideration given to issues of equality, diversity and inclusion

6. Poster (online or in-person)

Posters are an opportunity to share your research with peers and colleagues in a pictorial and eye-catching way. Posters at the in-person event are displayed together in a central conference room so that conference delegates can speak with poster presenters about their research. Each in-person poster presenter is also given a one minute slot to introduce their research to all the conference delegates.

Presenters are also invited to provide a digital version for inclusion in the online poster exhibition which will run from the beginning of the conference to the end of August 2025. They can also elect to present only in the online exhibition.

The poster presentation format is suitable for completed research at all levels and also for ongoing research. New poster presenters may find our Poster guidelines (pdf 0.1MB) helpful.

Poster abstracts should show:

  1. That the topic is relevant to counselling, psychotherapy or coaching research or multi/trans-disciplinary research within mental health
  2. Clear research aims and purpose
  3. Appropriate methods which are clearly described
  4. That ethical approval has been granted for the research
  5. Results (where available) are clearly presented
  6. Limitations of the research that are specific to the research conducted (rather than generic methodological limitations, for example)
  7. Appropriate conclusions and implication for practice which are clearly drawn from the results
  8. Consideration given to issues of equality, diversity and inclusion

7. Symposium (online or in-person)

A symposium brings together a themed collection of studies in a larger programme of research, or similar studies from various researchers.

Accepted symposia are given a 90 minute time slot and this would usually include 60 to 70 minutes of presentations and 20 to 30 minutes for questions or discussion.

For a symposium, you'll need to submit an overview abstract, giving details of what connects the symposium papers. You'll also need to submit separate abstracts for the symposium papers. There should be a minimum of three and a maximum of four separate papers submitted, plus the overview. Although a symposium is regarded as a whole, each paper will be peer reviewed separately.

Symposium presentations cannot be used for data collection by presenters.

As well as the standard information above, you'll be asked for the email addresses of each of the paper presenters.

You don't need to structure your abstract using headings, but you should cover the following areas which will be assessed at peer review:

  1. How the overall topic is relevant to the audience and conference theme
  2. Clear aims of the symposium and constituent research papers
  3. That the constituent research papers form a coherent whole in the symposium, or show evidence of collaboration between the research teams
  4. That consideration has been given to issues of equality, diversity and inclusion

The constituent research papers should cover the following areas which will be assessed at peer review:

  1. That the topic is relevant to counselling, psychotherapy or coaching research or multi/trans-disciplinary research within mental health
  2. Clear research aims and purpose
  3. Appropriate methods which are clearly described
  4. That ethical approval has been granted for the research
  5. Well-presented summary of results if available or, if not, clear statement that preliminary or final findings will be ready for and included in the conference presentation
  6. Limitations of the research specific to the research conducted (rather than generic methodological limitations, for example)
  7. Appropriate conclusions and implication for practice which are clearly drawn from the results
  8. That consideration has been given to issues of equality, diversity and inclusion

8. Online submission form

Please send your submission using our online submission form. 

9. What happens next? 

Your submission will be briefly triaged by the BACP research team to ensure that you have addressed the minimum criteria, including ethical approval, considerations of equality, diversity and inclusion and not exceeded the 400 word limit. If it’s apparent you've missed something crucial, we'll return your abstract and ask you to include the missing information. We won't be assessing the quality of your submission at this stage, only whether essential information, as outlined on this page, is missing or not.

After the submission deadline, abstracts are anonymised and forwarded to a panel of experienced independent researchers for review. You'll be notified of the outcome of the peer review of your submission in early 2025.

If your submission requires amendments, you'll be sent the reviewers’ comments with a deadline for returning the amended abstract. All decisions by the peer review panel are final.

See also