Photovoice as Counseling Intervention and Research Method: One Family’s Experience of Barriers to Implementing Mindfulness Skills

Abstract

This photovoice study was conducted simultaneously for the purpose of research and clinical intervention with one client family to explore their experiences of barriers to implementing mindfulness skills learned in counseling into their everyday lives. Photovoice is an ideal research methodology for investigating clients’ perspectives on the counseling process because it centralizes the client worldview, minimizes researcher interpretation, and empowers clients toward action. The sample consisted of four participants (one family) whose ages were 16, 18, 41, and 43, and all identified as White or Caucasian. The family identified (a) What Life Does to Us and What We Do to Ourselves, (b) Schedules- What We Have to Do and Not Have to Do, and (c) Resistance to Change is Natural as themes representing barriers to implementing mindfulness skills at home. Authors collaborated as researcher and practitioner in this endeavor and discuss implications for scholarship and practice.

Keywords:

• Photovoice
• counseling process
• family counseling
• intervention research
• client perspectives

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Corrine R. Sackett

Corrine R. Sackett is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at Clemson University. She researches client perspectives of the counseling process.

Alyssa M. Jenkins

Alyssa M. Jenkins is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice at Jenkins Counseling.

Laura E. Gambrel

Laura E. Gambrel is a LMFT and LPC in private practice at the Institute of Relational Mindfulness.