A phenomenological exploration of how engagement with fiction may inform psychotherapists' philosophy and practice
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- Title
- A phenomenological exploration of how engagement with fiction may inform psychotherapists' philosophy and practice
- Creator
- Rebecca Mary Elizabeth Greenslade
- Date
- 2015
- Abstract
- Using the research method Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this research study considers the findings of four individual interviews conducted with experienced psychotherapists from differing modalities and approaches. It enquires into their personal relationship to fiction, their relationship between fiction and psychotherapy practice and their experience of fiction as a psychotherapy trainee. An extensive review of literature is discussed under the themes of literary theory, medical humanism, literature as pedagogy and the therapeutic function of literature, which highlights a need for further research upon the relationship between reading fiction and psychotherapy practice. A detailed philosophical consideration of IPA informs a rigourous and thorough research process and analysis, evidencing clear findings which indicate significant value in both trainee and qualified psychotherapists engaging with fiction as medium to both deepen and develop personal awareness and therapeutic attitudes and skills. Having carried out the research, the following super-ordinate themes were identified; reading fiction develops relationship to self, reading fiction develops understanding of others, reading fiction provides life enrichment, a preference for non-fantasy fiction, reading fiction cultivates therapeutic attitude and practice, none or minimal experience of fiction on psychotherapy training, reading fiction has value for trainee psychotherapists. The author suggests the findings present a challenge to current pedagogical approaches and training curricula which predominantly favour academic texts to the exclusion of fictional texts. A reflection upon 5 further considerations for both future research and pedagogical approaches concludes the study."
- Subject
- Psychotherapy--Practice|Fiction||
- Psychotherapy and Counselling
- Extent
- 123 pages
- Format
- Publisher
- Regent's University London
- degree
- MA in Psychotherapy and Counselling
- Language
- English
- Date Issued
- 2015
- Type
- Thesis & Dissertation
- Rights Holder
- Regent's University London & Rebecca Mary Elizabeth Greenslade
- Item sets
- Theses or Dissertation