Artful Compassion

Abstract

This research explores experiences of compassion in the eating disorder recovery processes of 2S/LGBTQ+ people. There exists a growing body of evidence suggesting disparities in the assessment, treatment, and overall care of eating disorders in 2S/LGBTQ+ communities. One concern is a potential lack of compassion, which can exacerbate feelings of isolation for 2S/LGBTQ+ individuals. To gain a deeper understanding of this issue, we embrace a queer poststructuralist approach to our research that disrupts traditional knowledge and acknowledges experiences as socially constructed. Semi-structured interviews with 14 self-identifying 2S/LGBTQ+ people who have experienced eating disorder care were conducted. Analysis of the data revealed three main types of experiences: 1) Experiences of otherness, 2) Experiences of compassion in eating disorder care, and 3) Experiences of compassion in queer communities. To “queer” our findings, we present them through graphic art and non-traditional scientific writing. The graphic art represents participants’ experiences and is followed by critical discussions that further explore the socially constructed nature of their experiences. Our findings underscore the critical need for enhanced compassion for 2S/LGBTQ+ people during treatment with eating disorders.