Creatively rehabilitating self-esteem after an acquired brain injury: An auto-ethnography of healing

Abstract

This participatory auto-ethnography was conducted to explore the use of creative activities to enhance the self-esteem of individuals who have sustained an acquired brain injury (ABI). There were five participants in the study, including myself as the researcher/participant. Three questions were researched: how do ABI patients feel when they have completed a creative task, how does the way ABI patients feel when they complete their creative endeavors affect the way they feel about other aspects of their lives, and, how can ABI patients learn things about themselves by doing creative activities, which will help them be more successful in other aspects of their lives? The genre or methodology 'participatory auto-ethnography' was chosen for two reasons. Firstly, an auto-ethnography includes autobiographical writing, so the epistemological problem which can result because the researcher is from the same culture as the participants is eliminated. As the researcher, I could freely express my own experiences without fear of lessening the validity of the views of my participants. Secondly, a participatory paradigm includes alternative representation. Three were used: a short story, a play, and a pictorial representation of the data. Data were collected in multiple forms, including participant observation, conversations with the participants, field notes, and a focus group interview. The data were analyzed, and emerging findings were triangulated. The report was written in a narrative format designed to attract readers both within and beyond the academic sphere. The findings suggest that engagement in creative activities is a positive addition to ABI rehabilitation because of its favorable impact on self-esteem. I concluded the study by highlighting areas that may benefit from further research.