Abstract
There is growing recognition of the benefits of creative experiences and activities in social and health care. This article focuses on social services clients’ experiences of creativity and arts in their lives. Ten social services clients were interviewed about their experiences in relation to creativity or creative activities. These interviews were analysed by employing the existential-phenomenological approach. As a key finding of this research, we present a conceptualisation of how creativity enhances the reconstruction of the life narrative. The findings reveal four key aspects of how creativity is perceived and experienced as part of life, what kinds of meanings these experiences carry and what their significance is in people’s lives. These are: (1) constructing coherence, (2) fostering feelings of significance and purpose, (3) constructing meaningfulness and (4) creativity in everyday life and as a spiritual dimension. We argue that creativity is essential for (re)constructing life narratives. This process subsequently enhances agency and well-being. These results deepen our understanding of the intertwined nature of meaningful life experiences and creativity. Furthermore, the results indicate that creative activities could be utilised more in social work, aiming to support people in a vulnerable position.
Highlights
If I couldn’t express myself, I’d be as good as dead (I1).This research explores social work clients’ experiences of creativity in their lives
We studied the experiences of social service clients and found out how fundamental element creativity can be in one’s life
We argue that creativity is essential forconstructing life narratives
Summary
This research explores social work clients’ experiences of creativity in their lives. This article explores the key concepts of creativity, experience, meaning and life narrative that underpin this study. It describes the methodological choices, process and results of the study. It suggests a conceptualisation of how creativity enhances the reconstruction of the life narrative and (re)directs agency. We argue that creativity is essential for (re)constructing life narratives. This process subsequently directs agency and enhances well-being. The results indicate that creative activities could be utilised more in social work aiming to support people in a vulnerable position
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