Doctorate Research Summary

Between 2002-2012, I worked within community-based mental health recovery programs; I found combining Narrative Therapy and Creative Arts Therapy for individual and group-work psychosocial recovery to be a rewarding and effective way to work. A brief description of my doctoral thesis follows.

Title: Artistic Intersubjective Technologies: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Psychosocial Rehabilitation Group Work.

I completed my PhD project and research with RMIT University, School of Education, supervised by Dr. David Forest and Dr. Nina Bruni, between 2005 and May 2012.

The main question guiding the study was: What are the practical and research implications of combining arts-based and narrative therapy approaches to psychosocial recovery group-work? The inquiry was prompted by a perceived need for creative and inclusive approaches to exploring socio-emotional issues of living with chronic conditions.

The methodology incorporated poststructuralist theories, reflexive research, ethnographic drama, song writing and creative art therapies. The study locates the national position of psychosocial recovery within a global setting and explores contemporary understandings of recovery, wellbeing, psychiatric diagnoses and treatment options. The study demonstrated resource efficient, inclusive and flexible approaches to research and mental health intervention practices, still relevant to trauma-informed mental health practice developments in 2023.

Changes in the participants' subjectivity were evidenced; they ceased describing themselves as per their psychiatric diagnosis and came to view themselves respectively as artists, performers and friends, able to try new things and achieve changes in their lives. Emergent issues identified by the group and explored through the artistic processes were isolation, anxiety, self-consciousness, paranoia, companionship, confidence, motivation, emotions and change.

The reflexive analysis highlighted the suitability and significance of the artistic approaches within group work for people living with chronic illnesses. Compassion was articulated in the songwriting and storytelling and echoed throughout the group and audience members’ comments about the songs, the story and the performances.

The methodology may be suitable for a broad range of community program goals such as exploration of cultural identity, trauma recovery, AOD recovery, and for clients groups with complex communication needs.