Your life within me: Exploring a visual art journal group intervention for women who experienced stillbirth

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a pilot study, of a 6-week art therapy group for mothers grieving the loss of their stillborn baby. The intervention encompassed weekly artmaking within a visual journal and group dialogue inspired by the Two-Track Model of Bereavement and art-based grief processing models. The research explored the potential usefulness through a mixed-methods design, which included comparisons of pre- and post-intervention measures of emotional regulation and measures of ongoing internal relationship with the deceased, as well as the participants’ perception of the intervention’s meaning captured through art-based interviews. Results indicated statistical trends of the quantitative measures toward increased emotional regulation, well-being, and a strengthened relationship with the deceased. The thematic analysis highlighted the challenges of coping with stillbirth as a profound, often ambiguous, and unacknowledged loss. Participants found that acknowledging their relationship with the deceased, participating in a support group, and maintaining a visual journal were particularly helpful. The discussion integrated findings with art therapy and medical considerations for this often under-addressed and societally untold loss.