The Sexology and Psychotherapy Applied Research Centre (SPARC) is a specialist applied research centre hosted within the Institute of Psychosexual Psychotherapy, providing comprehensive research infrastructure for practitioners across psychotherapy, counselling, psychology, psychosexual therapy, clinical sexology, forensic sexology, and related disciplines.
SPARC addresses a recognised gap in the UK research landscape by supporting practitioner-led applied research that strengthens evidence-informed practice while maintaining robust and transparent ethical governance informed by UKRIO principles and the Concordat to Support Research Integrity.
SPARC operates a formal Research Ethics Committee with structured application, review, and monitoring procedures informed by established academic research governance frameworks. All research undergoes mandatory independent ethical review to ensure participant welfare and research integrity.
SPARC’s governance framework is informed by UKRIO principles and the Concordat to Support Research Integrity, supporting research that meets recognised national standards. Our framework includes:
SPARC’s research governance is supported by an Ethics & Advisory Panel comprising experienced professionals from relevant disciplines. Panel members contribute to ethical review, academic input, and mentorship based on expertise and project alignment.
Active Research Projects:
Active Research Projects:
Members receive structured research support, including:
As regulatory bodies increasingly emphasise research literacy and evidence-informed practice, engaging in research-led CPD can support:
Three structured membership levels designed for different research engagement stages:
Minimum 4 CPD hours annually.
Access to practitioner-research forum and networking events.
Exclusive access to our online programme Writing for Professional Publication.
Ad-hoc academic supervision access (£45/hour).
Minimum 12 CPD hours annually.
Access to practitioner-research forum and networking events.
Exclusive access to our online programme Writing for Professional Publication.
Annual research consultation and ethics pre-screening.
Writing accountability group and collaborator directory access.
20+ CPD hours annually.
Access to practitioner-research forum and networking events.
Exclusive access to our online programme Writing for Professional Publication.
Three annual research consultations and priority ethics review.
Writing accountability group and collaborator directory access.
Support with identifying and applying for external research funding (if needed).
CPD certificates are provided for SPARC CPD activity, including structured seminars, training events, one-to-one learning sessions, and supervised research support.
SPARC membership and CPD activity do not constitute a professional accreditation or qualification. Members remain responsible for ensuring alignment with their professional body requirements.
SPARC operates with awareness of PSA accredited organisations such as UKCP, HCPC, COSRT, and related ethical frameworks, recognising the complexities of practitioner-led research. Our governance addresses:
All research conducted under SPARC governance is supported through structured processes including:
Laura Joanknecht – Research Director, SPARC MSc Psychosexual Therapy, BSc (Hons) Psychology, MBACP (Accred), NCPS (Accred), COSRT (Accredited) is a psychosexual and relationship therapist, educator, and researcher with over two decades of experience in therapeutic practice, training, and applied research.
Previously, Programme Lead for the MSc in Contemporary Psychosexual Therapy she has extensive experience supervising practitioner-researchers working at the intersection of sexuality, trauma, relationships, and power. Her work emphasises reflexive, ethically grounded research that integrates clinical insight with interdisciplinary scholarship.
Laura’s research interests include sexual development within high-control belief systems, trauma-informed approaches to sexuality and relationships, and the ethical complexities of working with marginalised or stigmatised experiences. She is particularly committed to supporting practitioner-led research that bridges the gap between academic knowledge and lived therapeutic practice.
As Director of Research, Laura leads the development of collaborative and interdisciplinary research initiatives, working alongside consulting academics from psychology, psychotherapy, sociology, sexology, and medicine to ensure that research in psychosexual, relational and specialist therapies remains both intellectually rigorous and deeply connected to practice.
Research Enquiries: laura.sparc@instituteofpsychosexualpsychotherapy.org
Website: https://www.instituteofpsychosexualpsychotherapy.org/sparc
Ethics Committee: For ethics-related queries, contact via the main SPARC email address.
SPARC is an independent research centre and is not affiliated with, accredited by, or endorsed by UKRIO, UKCP, COSRT, or any regulatory body.