Call for Research Participants

Title of Research:

Therapy, Self-Help, or Coaching: Lived Experiences of Depression and Overcoming Depression in Mid to Late Adulthood

We are seeking participants for a qualitative research study that aims to explore people’s experiences with depression and overcoming depression using approaches including therapy, self-help, or coaching.

Who can participate?

We invite people who meet the following criteria to participate:

• Aged 40-75 (mid to late adulthood);
• Have experienced depression at some point in their life;
• Have engaged with one or more of the following approaches to recovery: therapy (e.g., counseling or psychotherapy), self-help practices (e.g., self-help books, self-help online forums, programs or resources of any type), and/or coaching (e.g., life coaching, career coaching);
• Have no history of drug addiction or severe mental health diagnosed conditions (e.g.: PTSD, bipolar or borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia);
• Have not been under therapy or psychotropic medication in the last 6 months;
• Are willing to discuss their experiences openly in a one-on-one online interview;
• Are able to communicate their experiences in English.

What will you need to do?

Participants will be asked to take part in a one-on-one, semi-structured interview lasting up to 60 minutes. The interview will explore your experiences with depression and the methods you used to recover. Interviews will take place online via Microsoft Teams.

Confidentiality and Ethics:

All information shared will remain strictly confidential and anonymized. The interview will be recorded for transcription purposes, and only the researcher will have access to the recordings. Your identity will not be revealed in any publications resulting from this study. Participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw from the study at any time up to the point of analysis, without consequence.

Benefits of Participation:

While there is no compensation for participants (this is an academic research study rather than a clinical trial), your involvement may contribute to a deeper understanding of causes of depression and how various recovery approaches can support people in mid to late adulthood overcome depression. Your insights may help shape better integrative practices and support for others facing similar challenges.

Interested?

If you would like to participate or learn more about the study, please contact the researcher, Ella Joseph, via email at [email protected].

Ethical Approval:

This study has been approved by the University of Wolverhampton Ethics Committee on May 20, 2025, and all research will be conducted in line with the British Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics and Conduct.