Another kind of connection: Dialogical therapy supported by recovery coaches

I initiated an action research project within my private psychotherapy practice, in collaboration with a group of recovery coaching trainees. The main idea of the project was to involve the trainees, people with their own experience of addiction and recovery, into dialogical meetings with couples and families as my co-therapists. In the cyclical process of action research we switched between action phases (meetings with clients) and reflection phases (research team meetings only). Clients of the sessions were not involved directly in the research process but the sessions were recorded and they were asked to offer feedback afterwards. As a result, Open Dialogue model with its reflecting conversations between consultants and emphasis on present moment was found to be suitable model for involving „lived expertise“ as a natural part of the meeting. The clients and trainees were emphasising „another kind of connection“ achieved through the experience with similiar issues and the process also moved the „identified client“ from the central focus of the session. Organisation of the future meetings was elaborated and suggested as the practical outcome of the research.