Necessity the mother of (RE) invention: using positive autoethnography for trauma and loss
| Date | 16 April 2024 |
| Pages | 1228-1238 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-02-2024-0031 |
| Published date | 16 April 2024 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
| Author | Matt Broadway-Horner |
Necessity the mother of (RE) invention:
using positive autoethnography
for trauma and loss
Matt Broadway-Horner
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of positive autoethnography for the
consequences of conversion therapy. Life after conversion therapy is, for many, a life-changing episode,
especially when combined with disfellowship. In recent years, positive autoethnography has grown
substantially. The work of Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004), from the school of positive psychology,focuses on
posttraumatic growth following a traumatic event or series of events.
Design/methodology/approach –Qualitativeapproach of positive autoethnography.
Findings –This innovative case studyhighlights personal struggles with grief, depressionand suicidal
ideation. In addition, the time elapsed has enabled a process to juggle with alternative ideas moving
forwardin salvaging a form of identity.
Research limitations/implications –Treatment as usual psychological therapies (TAUPT) provide
many unhelpfultriggers due to the same jargon used in both conversiontherapy and TAUPT. Away from
TAUPT,this writing exercise may help as a stand-alone post-conversionrecovery process.
Practical implications –The post-conversionrecovery process will offer much-needed help withonly a
few face-to-facemeetings to aid the posttraumaticgrowth writing exercise.
Social implications –The suicide rates for sexual minority conversion therapy victims are eight times
higher than those of othersexual minority groups and isolation levels. A single pointof entry pathway for
conversiontherapy survivors is needed.
Originality/value –To the best of the author’s knowledge, the first of its kind to apply positive
autoethnography using the model as a framework to understand the post-conversion therapy
experience,looks for growth in five areas: relating to others,new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual
changeand appreciation of life.
Keywords Internalised homophobia, Proximal stressors, Lived experience, Conversion therapy,
Researcher-participant, Participant-researcher, Posttraumatic growth, Positive autoethnography
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
In recent years, positive autoethnography (PosAE) has returned to the positive psychology
fold, returning to its founding principles of phenomenology and qualitative roots (Froh,
2004). PosAE is a pragmatic autoethnographic approach that uses autoethnography to
reflect upon the lived experience via a positive framework like Tedeschi and Calhoun’s
(2004) posttraumatic growth model (Figure 1). This enables the researcher participant to
both engage in theory and reframe the lived experience towards a different perspective,
allowing for optimistic future projections(Gonot-Schoupinsky et al.,2023).
Psychological understanding of traumatic growth has gained momentum, building on the work of
Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004).Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004) suggest that positive change can
occur following a traumatic event, referred to as “posttraumatic growth”. Rashid and Seligman
(2018) embraced the posttraumatic growth model in mainstream positive psychological work as
Matt Broadway-Horner is
based at the Department of
Psychology, University of
Bolton –Deane Campus,
Bolton, UK.
Funding statement: Nil funding
received.
Conflict of Interest declaration:
The author declare that they
have NO affiliations with or
involvement in any organization
or entity with any financial
interest in the subject matter or
materials discussed in this
manuscript.
PAGE 1228 jMENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION jVOL. 28 NO. 6 2024, pp. 1228-1238, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/MHSI-02-2024-0031
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