a heuristic study: “what does spirituality mean to me ... · 1990, west, 2011, sanders &...
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A Heuristic Study:
“What does Spirituality
mean to me?"
Steve Gray
April 2018
Keele Counselling
(Research and
Practice)
Conference 2018
‘Spirituality, faith
and religion in the
therapeutic space
“The concept of spirituality has
been a consistent dimension in
my life. Whilst at times this
aspect of myself has been
ignored, denied and rejected, on
reflection, I have come to
understand that the concept of
spirituality has always been an
important part of me.”
Aim
The aim of this heuristic piece of research (Moustakas, 1990) is to
continue with my onward journey, to consider at depth, what spirituality
means to me now, and why does it continue to resonate?
Possible research outcomes:
1. Congruence (Rogers, 2004), A greater understanding of myself that
may support me both in my personal development, growth, and
therapeutic practice; particularly in my current role as a bereavement
counsellor (Milner, 2011).
2. Practice development: An increased understanding of how the
Person-Centred approach links to my spirituality, which may be of
interest to a larger counselling community.
3. Resonance: The research may resonate and be thought provoking for
other readers, on their own spiritual journey (Rogers, Kirshenbaum &
Henderson, 1999).
Why did I choose the heuristic method?
“The opportunity to look at this subject, and from a heuristic perspective,
intuitively just felt right, and resonated with not just my understanding of how
research should be conducted, but also my understanding of the individual
from a person centred perspective, mainly that every day we create our own
reality, and truth from our own unique experience” (Gray, 2015).
“One could also suggest that there exists a spiritual quality at the very heart of
the heuristic method, which can be seen in the use of language in the
literature, for example, searching, inward looking, reflective, meditative, felt-
sense, inner-awareness, meaning, intuitive, and experiencing (Moustakas,
1990, West, 2011, Sanders & Wilkins, 2010, Etherington, 2004 & Finlay).”
(Gray, 2018)
During my research I utilised the six phases of Moustakas (1990) Heuristic
method:
All data was recorded in a research journal, and relevant artefacts such as
photographs and any objects were collected indexed and stored.
1: Initial engagement Preparation work
2: Immersion “To live the question, awake, asleep and in my dreams” (West
2001 p. 129)
3: IncubationBack to normal life!! The unconscious processing or tacit knowledge,
4: Illumination Becoming aware of new insights that emerge, but ideas are not forced
5: ExplicationTo fully explore all the data gathered, consider the meanings, pulling together key themes
6: Creative synthesisCreate!!
St Beuno's ,Tremeirchion, North Wales
My Experience of the method?
“Extra pressure; the very private becomes public!”
“Stress!!! I could easily go home now!”
“The process is very fluid; today immersion and insights and creative synthesis
“I can feel the tension in my head, all you can do in the silence is think!”
“This is hard!! Wish I was interviewing others!”
“I feel like I am drowning!”
“Feel that I am gaining some real insight”
“I feel that this experience has been a really important process in my personal
development, but I probably wouldn't do it again!!!!
“The intensity of the method is powerful and at depth, It would in my view be
difficult to get this data using other methods’
The Experiencing and the journey
Walking the Labyrinth:
The spiritual and heuristic
journey!
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Antony Gormley’s Another Place, Cosby Merseyside (Photo inset)
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