ABSTRACTPsychotherapists may avoid clinical research partly because they perceive much of it to have little relevance to practice and partly because they feel that any methodologically sound research will produce deleterious effects upon the process and outcome of therapy. This paper describes a research project designed to overcome some of the problems involved. It focusses in particular upon the research procedures which affect, for better or for worse, the process and outcome of the therapy. The issues raised by aspects of research such as assessments, tape recordings, and strict time‐limits, are discussed using clients’comments and therapists’experiences. It is concluded that tackling the issues as they arise in therapy, rather than denying them, can often enhance the therapy and obviate any negative overall ef