Dialoguing With Images: An Expressive Arts Method for Health Research

Despite the increasing integration of arts-based methods within qualitative research, few expressive arts methods have been studied to understand their process, rationale and impact on the inquiry process. We conducted a grounded theory study on family experiences of paediatric HSCT where we simultaneously adapted and studied a ‘dialoguing with images’ (DI) expressive arts process as method. Fifteen family members participated in two interviews, drew an image and were guided through the DI method. We articulate the social process shared by researchers, participants and the images as they co-constructed knowledge through the DI method. The four distinct phases of the method include: 1) containing the imaginative space within an outer and inner frame, 2) creating an embodied image: image work is an expressive, generative process, 3) a shared, participatory aesthetic interpretation and 4) crystallizing stories of illness. The findings are grounded in expressive arts theory and philosophy, hermeneutics and analytical art psychotherapy theory.