An inquiry into the nature of therapeutic space in palliative care groups, working with nature and imagination

This research explores 15 years of palliative care group work, inspired by the Asclepian healing temples in Ancient Greece, working in and with nature, using imagery, ritual and bodywork. Through Intuitive Inquiry, incorporating hermeneutic, heuristic and transpersonal elements, the research focuses particularly on the nature of the therapeutic space. From archive material and interview data, five broad themes emerged which were considered integral to creating a healing space and environment, and which were inherently interconnected. Separated only for the clarity of discussion, these themes were named as Pilgrimage, Place, Nature, Imagination (the ‘Mundus Imaginalis’) and Presence.

From this, the researcher developed a collaborative model for group work in palliative care and considered the potential impact and relevance to education and practice. Collaboration in this sense refers to the potential of shared facilitation, for example between psychotherapists and artists, and also acknowledges the therapeutic collaboration with the environment, particularly nature, and, in the spirit of Asclepius, with ancient wisdom.

The research also highlighted the resonance between the methodology and the research focus. The research process itself became a pilgrimage. This dissertation, with the journey forever unfolding, is a resting post along the way.