Qualitative Research Methods Render and Advance Consultation Practice: Here’s Why that Matters

Consultation relies on story. This is true for researchers, for practitioners, and for clients. Given this fact, qualitative and mixed methods (QMM) research are particularly well suited to listening to the stories that compose the clinical practice of consultation in order to extend understanding and to support improvement and innovation. In this way, QMM is worthy of its growing credibility as a centerpiece of empirical inquiry. To initiate the series of articles collected for this special issue, this article extends consideration of readiness for the consultation process. By positioning consultation research as the consultee and QMM as the consultant, this brief discussion anchors in the metaphor of best consultation practice, as we understand it today.