“Thinking about what makes you you”: An exploration of the experience of care leavers in engaging with collective narrative practice through the Tree of Life
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Tobin, Lucy (2023) “Thinking about what makes you you”: An exploration of the experience of care leavers in engaging with collective narrative practice through the Tree of Life. Professional Doctorate thesis, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust / University of Essex. Full text available
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Abstract
Over 10,000 young people in the UK transition from being in care to being a care leaver each year (Department for Education, 2021). Despite the prevalence of mental health difficulties among this group, available emotional support is argued to be inadequate (Ofsted, 2022). The Tree of Life is an arts-based collective narrative practice intervention rooted in narrative therapy; utilising the metaphor of a tree as a platform from which to reflect upon, develop and share personal narratives (Ncube, 2006). This has been found to be positively experienced by a range of groups. To date, no research has explored the Tree of Life with care leavers. This research aims to explore how the Tree of Life is experienced by this group. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with six care leavers who had engaged in the Tree of Life and the data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Findings revealed five Group Experiential Themes which summarised the participants’ experiences: Uncertainty and discomfort, individual barriers and facilitators, developing identity, connecting with others and hope and motivation for the future. This research provides insight into how the Tree of Life is experienced by care leavers, thus providing valuable information as to how the emotional wellbeing of this group can be supported, by not just Educational Psychologists, but a range of stakeholders with a responsibility to this group. Findings may also be of interest to those involved in the designing and implementation of therapeutic interventions in a range of settings.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Professional Doctorate) |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the Professional Doctorate in Child, Community and Educational Psychology awarded by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in association with the University of Essex |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Professional Doctorate in Child, Community and Educational Psychology, Edpsych Updates |
| Subjects: | Children, Young People and Developmental Pyschology > Adolescents- Psychology Children, Young People and Developmental Pyschology > Adolescents - Social Welfare Learning & Education > Educational Psychology Research, Tests, Assessments > Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis |
| Department/People: | Children, Young Adult and Family Services Research |
| URI: | https://repository.tavistockandportman.ac.uk/id/eprint/2815 |
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