Conference Agenda

In my presentation, I will report on the current status of my ongoing qualitative research, with the unhidden intention of finding some order in the archetypal creative chaos. I explore the nature of the transcendental, spiritual experiences associated with women's bodily experiences during childbirth – such as pain, altered states of consciousness. My research questions - my hermeneutic journey - revolve around motherhood, childbirth, the female body in social context, and the archetype of the female healer - the healing woman. This archetype seems to include both maternal and divine aspects. There are a number of references in the Jungian analytical psychology literature that may be useful for understanding this, including artistic and mythological contexts. "In childbirth, women are God’s partners." (Mohás, 1998) – what does this sentence mean for us in the 21st century? In my lecture, I will follow this thread from the Hungarian psychologist Lívia Mohás (quoted above), and I will use three mythological female figures, Lilith, Circe and Kinnaree to introduce my self-hermeneutic journey, via autoethnography (Williamson, 2018) and photovoice (Budig et al, 2018).

Menopause is a natural phase in a woman's life that may involve significant physical and psychological changes. Healthcare plays a crucial role in managing symptoms and improving quality of life. However, many women report inadequate care, shortcomings in the doctor-patient relationship, and a lack of personalized support. This qualitative study aims to investigate Hungarian menopausal healthcare experiences using thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with twelve women aged 45–55. The research examines key shortcomings in menopausal care, characteristics of the doctor-patient relationship, symptom management strategies, and factors that may contribute to a dignified menopausal experience. Preliminary findings suggest that women often feel the healthcare system provides insufficient information and support. The doctor-patient relationship is frequently perceived as unsupportive, with communication barriers. Participants emphasized relying on self-management strategies, including lifestyle changes and alternative therapies. These initial results indicate a need for improvements in menopausal healthcare. Enhancing medical education, strengthening patient information, providing psychological care, and improving physiological symptom management could significantly contribute to improvement of the quality of life for menopausal women.

Women and especially mothers often do most of the unpaid care responsibilities within the family. An uneven division of caregiving duties can increase the risk of psychological stress. Based on 20 interviews with mothers experiencing mental illness, we conducted a thematic analysis from a gender-theoretical perspective to examine ways in which these mothers relate their mental health and their role as mothers with associated caregiving duties. While some mothers perceive motherhood as a source of motivation and a positive influence on mental wellbeing, many highlight the negative connection between caregiving and mental health. The findings reveal a range of perspectives on this relationship. For some, motherhood and caregiving are perceived as triggers for mental illness; others describe them as additional stressors that exacerbate existing mental health issues. Additionally, although some mothers regard their mental health as independent from caregiving, care-related situations are frequently referenced when describing the nature and severity of their mental health. Across all three perspectives, societal expectations surrounding maternal roles and caregiving responsibilities emerge as key factors shaping these women’s experiences of mental health. The findings contribute to the analysis of mental health by considering the gendered parenthood and the resulting unequal distribution of caring responsibilities.

From my Australian childhood, through my dad’s work, I understood the value of empowering parents to meet and recognise their baby’s unique personhood. My research career has led me across the world, and also investigating this important topic. One in five women and one in ten men develop a mental illness during the perinatal period, yet many go unrecognized due to stigma, reluctance to seek help, and structural barriers. We explore historical and social factors influencing early and supportive perinatal mental healthcare in Tyrol, Austria. Based upon symbolic interactionism, and using semi-structured interviews (n=33), we examine how shifting meanings of pregnancy, parenthood, and mental health shape contemporary care. Thematic analysis, combining inductive and deductive approaches, identifies service gaps and opportunities for improvement. Findings indicate persistent stigma, traditional gender roles, and inadequate early intervention pathways. While awareness of perinatal mental distress has increased, expectations of parenthood have intensified. Fathers are rarely included in services, and psychiatry’s legacy of institutional mistrust deters help-seeking. Peer support and normalisation are valued but underutilized. Despite multiple organizations providing care, services remain fragmented, unevenly distributed, and not always able to provide holistic family focused services. Findings inform co-design efforts with stakeholders to develop locally relevant solutions.

This contribution presents a multidimensional qualitative research protocol designed to explore the role of dance therapy in the psychological care of migration-affected women who are survivors of sexual violence. The protocol was crafted to provide a comprehensive understanding of how dance therapy interventions could benefit this population.

To investigate the integration of dance therapy into a multidisciplinary care, semi-structured interviews were conducted with both participants in dance therapy workshops and professionals involved in their care.

Longitudinal qualitative data collection assessed the direct impact of dance therapy on psychological processes and organization. Over a year, participants underwent three sessions at six-month intervals, including a semi-structured interview, the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), self-report questionnaires, and the Rorschach test (interpreted using the French School method).

The diversity of tools employed reflects the complexity of the research subject and underscores the importance of qualitative methods in clinical psychology research. Semi-structured interviews uncovered challenges rooted in social context, personal experiences of violence, and psychological distress. Longitudinal qualitative analysis provided deeper insight into underlying psychological processes and organization, with a focus on attachment strategies, defense mechanisms, and trauma. These findings are illustrated through a detailed clinical case study.