The emotional experience of men over 40 in therapy for substance use: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
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- Title
- The emotional experience of men over 40 in therapy for substance use: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
- Creator
- Roger Duncliffe
- Supervisor
- Dr Anna Butcher, Dr Kornilia Givissi.
- Date
- 2019
- Abstract
- Much has been written about gender epistemologies that position men and women to enact culturally acceptable gender activities to regulate their emotional experiences. Men, instead of seeking help, are socially constructed to control their distress using more gender acceptable strategies e.g. violence, stoicism and suppression. The failure of these strategies to meet the needs of men aged between 45-59 years is suggested by their high suicide and substance related deaths. Through changing perceptions of masculinity, however, men are seeking psychotherapy in greater numbers. This research interviewed six men aged from 40-68 years who had or were still accessing therapy for substance use. Participants subjective experiences of emotions in therapy were examined through a counselling psychology lens at the intersection of substance use, older men and emotions. It aims to inform clinical practitioners how this population experiences and makes sense of their emotions. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was conducted on participants' responses from semi-structured interviews that identified three superordinate themes: 'The Sturdy Oak', 'Managing Emotions' and 'An Unlearning Learning Curve'. Findings from this study provide recommendations for working with older substance users that include attending to mens coded emotional language, their desire for an authentic real relationship built on trust and empathy and the relevance of time.
- Subject
- Psychotherapy and Counselling
- Extent
- 186 pages : illustrations
- Format
- Publisher
- Regent's University London
- degree
- PhD in Psychotherapy and Counselling
- Description
- EThOS ID: 814167
- Language
- English
- Date Issued
- 2019
- Type
- Thesis & Dissertation
- Rights Holder
- Regent's University London & Roger Duncliffe
- Item sets
- Theses or Dissertation