Therapists' Experience of Loss: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Kouriatis ◽  
Dora Brown

This qualitative study aimed to explore therapists' experiences of loss. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 therapists and the data were subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three master themes emerged from the analysis: (a) the grieving therapist, (b) hindrances in grieving, and (c) the impact of loss on therapeutic work. Therapists talked about their grief and elaborated on how they coped with their bereavement. Hindrances in their grief were reported, emerging both from others' stance and from their own. Participants found that their experience of loss was related to both challenges and advancements in their therapeutic work.

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-46
Author(s):  
Beth McManus

Coaching supervision is still an emergent profession with a limited body of research to support its credibility and practice. This qualitative study is the first to explore the use of music and mark-making as a creative tool within coaching supervision and highlights information about both coach and coach supervisor experience. The research explores the question, ‘How does using mark-making in response to music within coaching supervision affect coaches’ experience of reflective practice?’ through semi-structured interviews, analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology. Findings revealed that using music and mark-making as a creative tool within coaching supervision enhances reflective practice and supports the client-supervisor relationship, enabling highly effective supervision to take place. The results offer coaches, coaching supervisors, coach educators and researchers and other professionals in other contexts where supervision forms an integral part of professional support and development insights into using music and other creative tools in supervision sessions and the impact on reflective practice. Keywords: coaching supervision, music, creativity, coaching psychology, reflective practice


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 1223-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonie Lalayiannis ◽  
Nicky Asbury ◽  
Graham Dyson ◽  
Amanda Walshe

This study investigated how women with secondary breast cancer experience telling their adolescent children. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who had been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at least 1 year prior to the interview. Seven women, who had at least one child between 12 and 19 years old living at home at the time of diagnosis, were interviewed. The interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis for an in-depth understanding of women’s experiences. Women found that it was easier to tell their children of their secondary breast cancer diagnosis compared to their primary cancer. However, they talked about the impact the diagnosis had on their family.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn M. Cuthbertson

AbstractIntroduction:This paper is a methodological reflection on the use of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) utilised in the context of a qualitative research project that explored perceptions and experiences of the journey to radiographer advanced practice.Methods and materials:A two-phase qualitative research explored the perceptions and experiences. Phase 1 reviewed reflective diaries (n = 12) kept during the educational phase of the practitioner journeys. Phase 2 included one-to-one, semi-structured interviews (n = 6) which were recorded, transcribed verbatim and reviewed using the IPA six-stage thematic analysis for practitioners embedded in the advanced practice role.Findings:Key themes arising from reflective diary analysis informed the interview content; and following interview transcription, data immersion and IPA, 12 emergent sub-themes generated 3 superordinate themes.Discussion:Theoretical perspectives and application of the methodology are discussed. The phenomenological and interpretative qualities of IPA have the potential to provide unique and valuable insights into lived experiences of individuals. It is hoped that this researchers’ reflections are transferrable for those interested in employing a qualitative methodology for radiotherapy and oncology research.Conclusion:Therapeutic radiographers work within rapidly changing environments from technological, treatment and care perspectives. With continued development and change, the impact of research utilising an IPA methodology may allow exploration of perceptions and experiences from a range of key stakeholders with the potential to increase the research base.


Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110378
Author(s):  
Stella Mo ◽  
Nina Viljoen ◽  
Shivani Sharma

It is well recognised that culture plays an important role in how people experience the world. However, there is limited knowledge on the impact of socio-cultural norms and values on the lives of autistic women. This qualitative study used individual semi-structured interviews to explore how eight cis-gendered autistic women, without co-occurring intellectual disabilities, describe dominant socio-cultural beliefs, values and norms and their influence on their own sense of self. Findings elucidated three interdependent themes related to the ‘pervasive influence of cultural values’, ‘individualisation as an autistic woman’ and ‘social connectivity’. Autistic women described how they experienced their environments and made choices about their place within the dominant culture and the impact of these decisions on their identities and experience. The findings of this study have implications for the continued need to shift societal and clinical attitudes towards understanding and appreciating diversity among autistic women. Lay abstract Autistic women with average or above intellectual abilities are often overlooked clinically or identified at older ages compared to autistic males. Their experiences can provide insight into the socio-cultural factors that impact on how they develop and are seen by others. This study asked autistic women to describe the culture around them and explore how this has influenced their lived experiences. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight autistic women without a co-occurring diagnosis of intellectual disabilities. These were used for interpretative phenomenological analysis. Overall, we found three closely connected themes on the pervasive influence of cultural values on autistic women, how autistic women define themselves and the importance of connecting with society. These findings suggest that dominant cultural beliefs, values and norms effect how autistic women are recognised by others and develop their sense of self. Broadening how people think about autistic women in society and clinically may benefit how we identify and support autistic women.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rikke Hellum ◽  
Randi Bilberg ◽  
Gallus Bischof ◽  
Anette Søgaard Nielsen

Abstract Introduction: In the last 20 years, there has been growing evidence that heavy drinking causes serious harm, not only to the person who drinks but also to the person’s relations and concerned significant others (CSOs). Several interventions have been developed to help CSOs of persons with substance abuse e.g., Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). The aim of this study was to investigate what the CSOs who participated in a CRAFT intervention aimed for, when they sought help, what they found helpful from the intervention, and which elements of the interventions they utilized. Furthermore, we wanted to investigate how the CSOs managed to apply the components to their life.Method: This is a qualitative study is based on data from 11 interviews with help-seeking CSOs of individuals with alcohol problems. The participants were recruited from an RCT study of various formats for delivering CRAFT (by means of group sessions + written material, individual sessions + written material or self-delivered CRAFT with written material only). Semi-structured interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, and transcribed. The analysis was based on the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.Results: The results describe how the CSOs experienced the intervention and the format that CRAFT in which was delivered, what they felt they gained, and, lastly, how the CSO experienced that it affected their life after the intervention.Conclusion: CSOs who participated in CRAFT intervention, felt helped by the CRAFT components, regardless of the format through which the intervention was delivered. Written material on CRAFT was considered helpful alongside the interventions and may, even for some, function as a useful intervention, albeit probably not as effective. The “Communication-element” from CRAFT, positive reinforcement, and knowledge about the disorder seemed particularly helpful.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Fox ◽  
Kathryn Asbury ◽  
Umar Toseeb ◽  
Aimee Code

Friendships play a key role in supporting a successful transition to a new school for autistic children and young people. However, little is known about how these relationships have been impacted by the social restrictions put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to explore how parents experienced the impact of school transition on their autistic child’s friendships across differing educational settings during the pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 14 parents of autistic children in the UK. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Parents discussed a wide variety of experiences which differed between and within school settings. Several factors influenced children’s friendships during the transition including support from their new school and others’ understanding of needs. Existing friendships were found to support successful transition for some children, however, parents expressed that many had differing expectations of what friendship was, which affected their relationships. For some, COVID-19 negatively impacted on friendships by reducing their ability to be in contact with existing and new school friends. Others experienced positive or neutral experiences. This study highlights the diversity of needs for autistic children and calls for a personalised approach to transition support beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105413732110676
Author(s):  
Dr. Colleen Swinden

Despite increased interest in the impact of external events on counsellors, surprisingly little has been written on counsellor bereavement. To address the research question: How do bereavement counsellors experience therapeutic work after the death of their parent? Interviews were conducted with four bereaved counsellors who reflected on its impact on their work. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three major themes emerged; how decisions about returning to work were informed by colleagues and supervision; the benefits of returning to work and the use of ‘bracketing’; long-term implications for practice including heightened empathy with clients’ and disclosure of loss. In addition, participants felt they had insufficient guidance regarding fitness to practice. The possible limitations of the study were that self-selection may have introduced an element of bias to the results. These findings support existing literature and also revealed potential gaps in grief and loss training for counsellors and supervisors. A particular training issue for supervisors might be identifying and discussing fitness to practice issues with supervisees. There are also implications for counsellors in terms of the use of self-disclosure in therapy. Suggested further research to explore the use of self-disclosure in greater depth.


Autism ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1546-1556
Author(s):  
James Anderson ◽  
Charles Marley ◽  
Karri Gillespie-Smith ◽  
Leonie Carter ◽  
Ken MacMahon

There is limited knowledge and research on the experiences of having a daughter with autism spectrum condition from a mother’s perspective. This study aims to explore the experiences of mothers who care for a daughter with autism spectrum condition, with a particular focus on female autism spectrum condition presentation. Ten mothers of daughters with autism spectrum condition took part in a semi-structured interview. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the data. Five superordinate themes emerged: ‘Girls have autism too’, ‘She’s a chameleon’, ‘The impact of the diagnosis’, ‘Impact on mums’ and ‘Day-to-day life’. These findings add to our knowledge of how female autism spectrum condition presents and of the experiences directly related to being the mother of a daughter with autism spectrum condition. The findings have implications for clinicians that carry out autism spectrum condition assessments and provide insights into areas where additional support can be provided to mothers and daughters. Lay abstract Parents of children with autism spectrum condition report increased stress and difficulties compared with parents of typically developing children. Our knowledge and understanding of how autism spectrum condition presents in autistic females is currently limited and parents of this population may experience challenges when raising their daughter. Given that mothers are often the main caregiver of a child with autism spectrum condition, they may have useful insights into the experiences of parenting a daughter with autism spectrum condition. Therefore, a qualitative study was undertaken to explore what mothers’ experiences are of parenting a daughter with autism spectrum condition. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 mothers of daughters with autism spectrum condition. The interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Five main themes emerged from the qualitative study (‘Girls have autism too’, ‘She’s a chameleon’, ‘The impact of the diagnosis’, ‘Impact on mums’ and ‘Day-to-day life’). The findings of this study expand our current knowledge of the experiences and challenges faced by mothers raising a daughter with autism spectrum condition. Mothers hold a vast amount of knowledge on their daughters’ autism spectrum condition which could inform the diagnostic process and clinical practice. Considering these results, it is important that clinicians support mothers and the family system around children with an autism spectrum condition diagnosis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Parkes ◽  
Nicola Graham-Kevan ◽  
Jo Bryce

This paper explores the coping strategies of UK police staff who are exposed to sexual offence material (SOM). Eleven police staff completed a questionnaire then took part in semi-structured interviews. Themes were identified using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). This paper explores the theme ‘Coping strategies for working directly with material’, focusing on the most common strategies employed: ‘Detachment’, ‘Avoidance’ and ‘Process-driven’ approaches. Links between coping and different features of SOM are examined, including victim characteristics and audio content. The impact of organisational factors which make coping strategies more or less effective are also explored, along with potential sources of support.


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