Take Me to Your Galaxy - Stephan T.
Description:
The artefact illustrates how collaborating integrative psychotherapy with social work’s trauma-informed galactic approach can support members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community in (re)developing their sexual wellbeing after exposure to trauma. The artefact captures significant timepoints of individual galactic experiences, which symbolically display vulnerabilities and resiliencies of psychosocial disabilities, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), deriving from violent forms of trauma acquired brain injuries (ABI).
Lets blast off to a new dimension!
Significance:
When people hear ABI’s, they think of work-related accidents, diseases, or drugs/alcohol use. However, this artefact informs viewers by focusing on trauma related ABI’s caused by violence. The trauma-informed galactic approach combined with integrative psychotherapy (specifically group, art, acceptance and commitment therapy) addresses the intersection of LGBTQIA2S+ people’s sexuality and psychosocial disabilities, caused by domestic and/or sexual violence. While O’Shea et al (2020) outlines ABI’s as the leading cause of disabilities in Australia, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2024) reported 4.4 million Australians had a disability, and over a quarter were psychosocial disabilities. Although O’Shea et al (2020) outlines that existing peer-peer programs fail to address people with ABI'S sexuality concerns with themselves and others, collaborating these models can develop interrelational programs that holistically support and focus on improving client’s quality of life and sexual wellbeing. If integrating multiple counselling models into practice has effectively supported people with psychosocial disabilities – imagine integrating models across different professions.
Explore your inner galaxy!
Positionality:
I was most excited to for this subject as I consider myself a sex-positive person who is comfortable with the uncomfortable, such as conversations regarding sexual ‘taboos’ existing in society. After learning PTSD is an ABI and psychosocial disability (NSW Health 2023), I reflected on my own experience of PTSD related to domestic and sexual violence. I recognised many circumstances where I had the inability to engage in relationships, including sexual/romantic. Although I do not suffer from PTSD symptoms presently, this discovery empowered me to learn more about the intersection of psychosocial disabilities and sexualities outside my experience. This is foundational for me to develop greater awareness when supporting clients in future roles of psychotherapy, as disability is inevitable for everyone who experiences the process of aging (Whatcott 2021). Henderson et al (2013) highlight’s that over 70% of the global population with mental illnesses do not receive support due to unawareness of experienced symptoms and support service. I would like to contribute to declining that number.
What galaxy did you come from?
Impact:
The gem I am taking away from this subject is Fava and Fortenberry’s (2021) trauma-informed approach to sexual wellbeing. While Lee (2021) emphasises that people are “sense makers” who seek to understand the self and the world in a social context through reflecting on past, present, and future, Marshik (2015) adds that humans learn by attaching meaning and creating connections with things from animate/inanimate things, stories, music, colours, anything! This was the case for my engagement with Fava and Fortenberry’s (2021) 7 domain model, which focuses on peoples development of sexual esteem, resilience, forgiveness, self-determination, comfort, respect, and safety. I related these concepts to my personal experience of managing psychosocial disability symptoms and navigating what led me to overcoming traumatic experiences, which was empowering. By using art in a peer-peer group dynamic to create meaning and share galaxies with each other, this collaboration of models can empower people to thrive as resilient individuals.
What is unique about your galaxy?
Wish List:
I hope this artefact encourages you to indulge in exploring your own inner galaxy by reflecting on your life experiences with people, work, communities, music, trauma,
sex, thoughts, feelings, prejudices, aspirations, abilities, inabilities, and identities. I hope this artefact urges you to create your own galactic map of your life to develop a
greater sense of self. The galactic approach is “multidimensional” as it allows people to situate their identities, experiences, challenges, and contexts anywhere desired
(Kattari 2019). You can create something through crafting, digital art, poetry, sculpting, theatrical art. It is for all. You don’t need to be creative to develop your own galaxy, you just need to have a story to share – we all have that, even if you are unsure of our story, this multifaceted approach supports people with understanding
their story. Take me to your galaxy.
Scholarship:
Sexual and domestic violence contribute to LGBTQIA2S+ members development of acquired brain injuries (ABI), including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychosocial disability. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIWH) (2023) describes trauma-related psychosocial disabilities main symptom as difficulty developing romantic and sexual relationships. While the most common cause of ABI’s is domestic violence, the AIHW (2024) highlights LGBTQIA2S+ individuals experiencing homophobic-oriented violent behaviours, later causing severe psychosocial disabilities (PTSD). The AIHW (2023) reported 98% of surveyed participants were seeking psychosocial disability support to improve own quality of living, including (re)developing their sexual wellbeing.
Oshea et al (2020) essentialises trauma-informed, peer-peer program developments that support LGBTQIA2S+ people with trauma-related psychosocial disabilities affecting their sexual wellbeing. This involves promoting individual self-determination, respect, comfort, esteem, forgiveness, safety, and resilience, primary aspects of Fava and Fortenberry’s (2021) 7-domain model to developing sexual wellbeing. This trauma-informed approach challenges psychosocial disability obstacles by understanding and attaching meaning (Marshik 2015) to own traumatic experience(s). Occasionally, people suppress trauma-related memories, causing difficulty to understand their experiences (Wright et al 2017). Collaborating social work models with integrative psychotherapy (art, group, acceptance and commitment (ACT)), supports these individuals (Cherry 2024).
Programs encourage peer-peer verbal healing (group therapy) while art therapy allows expression of their experiences in comfortable, creative forms (Cherry 2023). Social works ‘galactic’ approach of art allows individuals to compartmentalise and situate their sexual identities and contexts in their galaxy (Kattari 2019). This visual reflection supports making sense of personal experiences (Lee 2021), by attaching meaning (Marshik 2015). This entails 6 processes: reflecting while “being present”, “defuse”/detach from and “accept” traumas through verbalisation, “self-as-context” view of own thoughts/feelings, and aligning with own “values”, core processes of ACT (Harris 2019). The 7-domain galactic approach combined with integrative psychotherapy support’s LGBTQIA2S+ members with trauma-ABI’s to (re)develop their sexual wellbeing by overcoming psychosocial disabilities intersectional influence on their relationships.
7 Comments
Thank you Stephan for sharing this wonderful art piece with us all. This thought provoking piece brings awareness to some of the major issues facing our society at present. I love this representation of a trauma informed approach for psychological disabilities. What a wonderful way to put the spotlight on the unseen and the difficult to express. I can see how this approach could be helpful to so many. This topic is often not talked about enough but it is so important! I am now better informed from coming across this!
I think this piece of artifact really shows the nature and the possibilities of sex and sexuality, when we think of sex and sexuality nowadays, there are more and more forms of sex and other events that could be a link to sex are becoming more and more accepted in the society, and this is something that requires more public acceptance, but this increase of acceptance seems to be much slower when it comes to disability and sexuality. This art piece have also given a really ‘feathered’ approach to seeking inner self and building and also re-building people’s thoughts about sex and sexuality, by putting people into their own space and be creative like a child!
I really like the approach you took for your artifact; I thought it was creative and insightful. I was drawn to the topic you chose to discuss, as people often associate acquired brain injuries to incidents like car accidents or workplace accidents, as you stated. The theme of ‘exploring your inner galaxy’ throughout your reflection was a thoughtful way to engage people to reflect on their own lives and values. I also thoroughly enjoyed the real-world nature of your writing as it offered a practical therapeutic perspective on how we can address trauma through group therapy and other creative avenues.
I especially appreciated how you analysed the intersectionality between the LGBTQIA2S+ community and people living with disabilities. People often do not consider the implications of domestic and sexual violence and how a large amount of people will acquire their brain injury from an intimate partner. I really admire how you included you own experiences into your reflection as it made it more powerful and gave a background into why you are so passionate about this topic. I never really considered the psychosocial aspect of acquired brain injuries and I think it is an important insight that I have gained from your artifact.
I really enjoyed the ‘galactic approach’ and love the amount of time and effort that you put into your artifact highlighting how important this topic is to you.
Hopefully our paths cross in the future.
George
🙂
Hey Stephan I really enjoyed your piece as it has a really good meaning to it. I was impressed with the artifact good job overall :))
When you spoke how this therapeutic activity can be integrated in a social work’s professional practice from a trauma-informed perspective, I love that you know what all the pieces on the artifact mean and how it represents your own journey.
It reminded of Dr George Turner’s piece on Circle of Sexuality (2020) and how it highlights social workers can use a strength-based approach to support people to rebound and recover, and how we can be inspired through ‘exploring your inner galaxy’ journey with clients in a holistic, therapeutic way. Clients can choose to create this piece anyway like giving themselves a true representation of their journey, its challenges and their resilience but, also it is their own individual choice how much they choose to share.
Your piece highlighted to me the importance and need for more advocacy surrounding people being diagnosed with PTSD after experiencing domestic violence, and the layers of challenges + complexities that are further added to individuals leaving with acquired life-changing disabilities in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Stephan, out of the entire exhibition your piece would have to be one of my favourites it is just an inspirational piece. I truly appreciate your willingness to share it with us, it is just magic and a privilege to have done this semester with you, thank you!
I loved hearing you speak in such an authentic way that wasn’t specifically academic. Psychosocial disability often is overlooked not just in the scope of sexuality but disability in general, and I was absolutely invested in your clear passion for the subject. You did a brilliant job of making an amalgam of the visual assessment and the scholarship. You clearly have so much to say from a very experiential position and what you have to say is robust and heartfelt. I’m thankful for you being so candid, I think beyond scholarship, which is amazingly weaved, the care you show for your subject matter was courageous and would make others that live with psychosocial disability feel seen. Again, thanks man, yours was my favorite work of the night. You should feel really proud of shining a light on psychosocial disability in such an intrinsically human way.
Your artifact does a fantastic job of emphasising how critical it is to address the particular needs of the LGBTQIA2S+ group with regard to trauma and sexuality. you’re bringing attention to a critical but often overlooked issue. The integration of various therapeutic approaches to support sexual wellbeing after trauma is a powerful concept that can truly transform lives. Your passion for delving into these complex topics is bound to strike an emotional chord with your audience and promote a greater awareness of these significant issues. You did amazing !