Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality, 2024
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Does Post-Traumatic Growth Follow Disfellowship and Sexual Minority Conversion Therapy? Salvaging Of a Precarious Identity: An Empirical Investigation Using Positive Autoethnography Approach
Matthew Broadway-Horner
ABSTRACT:
Life after conversion therapy is for many a life-changing episode especially when combined with disfellowship. In recent years, positive autoethnography has grown substantially. The work of Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004), from the school positive psychology focuses on post-traumatic growth following a traumatic event or series of events. This account from the author, the first of its kind in applying positive autoethnography using the model as a framework to understand the post conversion therapy experience looks for growth in five areas: relating to others, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual change and appreciation of life. This positive auto-ethnographic and auto account follows a rich tradition of other recent autobiographical accounts in the lived experience. but the first to address post conversion experience. This innovative case study highlights personal struggles with grief, depression, and suicidal ideation. In addition, the time elapsed enables him to see and juggle with alternative ideas moving forward in salvaging a form of an identity.
keywords: Internalised homophobia, proximal stressors, lived experience, researcher-participant, participant-researcher, post traumatic grief