| Abstract [eng] |
This master’s thesis is based on autoethnography, a qualitative research method that allows the exploration of personal experience through reflection, analysis, and its connection to a broader sociocultural context. The researcher, using creative expression – including written text and visual artworks – constructs a narrative that reveals personal experience and interprets it through the lens of scientific literature. The object of this study is the personal experience of depression and the related processes of identity change and reconstruction, as expressed through creative work within the context of art therapy. The aim of the study is to explore the experience of depression and the process of identity transformation and reconstruction through autoethnographic research and creative expression. The research question guiding this study is: how do identity changes and possibilities of identity reconstruction emerge through the creative process and its reflection in the experience of depression? The empirical part of the study is grounded in the researcher’s personal experience, analyzed through both reflective and visual analysis. The findings reveal that creative expression not only enables the articulation of inner experiences but also helps to structure, understand, and give meaning to them. The creative process highlights the fragmented, embodied, and dynamic nature of depressive experience, as well as the evolving relationship with the self. It also reveals the potential for identity reconstruction through reflection and creative engagement. The study demonstrates that autoethnography can serve as an effective method for investigating complex and deeply personal experiences, while creative expression plays a significant role in the process of identity reconstruction. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of depression and its transformation through creative processes. |
