We need more research in counseling if we want to strengthen counseling as a profession and if we want to implement counseling in mental health systems. Thus, the research should be multiple dimensional. This chapter is a plea for mixed-methods research (MMR) designs in the field of counseling. Even if MMR is very elaborate, it is worth doing. By way of example, I would like to briefly outline four of my projects, using MMR. The first one is a mixed methods research study on the video-based counseling method Marte Meo. The second project is one concerning genograms. Genograms are an integral part of therapy and counseling. The third MMR project is an elaborate research project which we carry out on behalf of the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Beratung”, the German National Association for Counseling (Member of the European Association for Counseling, EAC, and the International Association for Counseling, IAC) to develop a German qualifications framework for Counseling—in the context of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Finally, I refer to Guetterman et al. who provide some empirical evidence for researchers who wish to take full advantage of mixed methods to address pressing clinical and public health issues.

The forth project – a grounded theory (GT) study – is part of an extensive mixed methods research project to develop general principles for counselling. Nine hundred counselling protocols were examined. The material is characterised by a quantitative amount of data with a qualitative character. The research is based on the systemic-constructivist research paradigm. The variety of perspectives is an important aspect of the work. Therefore, it is important that the entire research process with GT takes place in exchange with other research settings in order to minimise the limitations caused by the perspective of the researchers. During the research process, there was an intensive examination of GT in order to adapt it to the research project. By using the GT to analyse the extensive qualitative material, the actions of the counsellors were observed and 10 counselling principles were developed. This article presents the research process and the findings