Assignment on phenomenological investigation

Assignment on phenomenological investigation

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Assignment: An existential-phenomenological investigation of the experience of being accepted in individuals who have undergone psychiatric institutionalization.

The article chosen uses a phenomenological design, which examines perceptions of experiences and circumstances people or groups have.  Grounded theory in contrast but similarity, uses other sources to gather data, such as observers and letters, in order to establish a theory that is grounded through data and comparative analysis; while narrative research follows narrative therapy in using the person’s own words and gathers data similarly through writings and biographies (Sheperis, Young, & Daniels, 2010).  These qualitative designs use various data collection methods but they all look at the participant’s perspective to obtain a better understanding of the experience which in-turn allows for better treatment and interventions and further research.

This study focused on participant’s experiences surrounding being accepted after being institutionalized for their mental illness.  The study followed a philosophical and theoretical guide that allowed for a more in-depth look at treatment from a client’s perspective.  The main questions regarded what clients experienced after institutionalization and how they experienced being excepted and how it made them feel.  Over 61 million people in America experience a mental illness in a year and institutionalization brings with it a stigma from society and these stigmas can add to or create new illnesses such as depression, self-depreciation, low esteem and low satisfaction (Winn, 2016).

The study used an existential-phenomenological method to capture these experiences and also proved the co-participants with a validating experience.  It did not specify how they were selected, but nine participants were asked to describe in written detail when they have felt they were accepted or being accepted (Winn, 2016).  These written accounts were then analyzed, sorted into meaning units, and then formed into seven constituents which represented the experience of being accepted: feeling joy, valued, understood, loved, belongingness, respect and unacceptable, which this last one seems negative but the experiences of being unacceptable allowed for a fuller experience of the other 6 constituents (Winn, 2016).

The results really provide a deeper insight for counselors as to what a client might be experiencing after institutionalization from many different perspectives, such as their family and friends and even their counselor.  Knowing this information offers the counselor to really adapt and tune-in to their awareness and receptiveness of the client’s experiences and enhance their sensitivity and empathy for their experiences and provide an even safer environment for the client to open up and share their experiences.  This article was great in that it provided a background to phenomenology, humanistic and existential therapies and focused on the importance of the client’s experience concerning acceptance, however there was not much on literature review or limitations and the author had a bias towards individuals who have more severe illnesses but she does suggest for further research on this subject and to expand even to individuals who also may struggle with physical and learning disabilities too.  Overall this article will help add to my proposal as it helps offer insight into client experiences while in an institution and after which helps support my theory and concerns that the clients experience is essential to successful discharge.

Jess

References

Sheperis, C. J., Young, J. S., & Daniels, M. H. (2010). Counseling research: Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Winn, J. (2016). An existential-phenomenological investigation of the experience of being accepted in individuals who have undergone psychiatric institutionalization. Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology, 16(Special Edition: Contemporary Phenomenological Review on Key Psychotherapeutic Issues), 1-14. doi:10.1080/20797222.2016.1164992