Taming the rescuer : the therapeutic nature of qualitative research interviews

Interviewing in qualitative research allows, indeed encourages, participants to tell their story. Although the researcher might want to hear a certain part of the story, it is not unusual for participants from vulnerable populations to tell the researcher their entire story. This paper explores the dilemmas faced by a researcher when interviewing in a non-sensitive area and explicates the ethical decision-making that occurred during the interviews to prevent blurring of boundaries.