The Art of Survival: Defining Abusive Experience, What It Means to Be Well, and Creative Expression to Guide Aftercare Interventions for Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

The issue of Intimate Partner Violence currently populates the international conversation for women’s rights. Language is frank and temperatures are high. While much of the stage is occupied by those who seek to raise awareness or alert the world to the illegality of abuse, minimal publicity is afforded to survivor experience. In particular, long-term experiences of survivors after “getting free” are little known. Predominant literature surrounding abuse focuses on psychology theory, reticence, and truisms, which limit access to healing and enclose Intimate Partner Violence within a private realm. This thesis presents renewed definitions of abuse and a deconstruction of what it means for a survivor to heal and be well. A comprehensive understanding of survivor experience guides an aftercare intervention that uses tools of creative expression and that functions on principles of meaning-making and reconnection. The accompanying project portion of this thesis, Your Creative Activity Manual, is a working document of the need, values, and principles outlined in this paper.