Emerging from depression: the experiential process of Healing Touch explored through grounded theory and case study

This study aimed to explore and analyse the experiential process of Healing Touch (HT) for people with moderate depression. Grounded theory and case study were chosen as the most appropriate methodology to address the objectives of the research. The grounded theory analysis uncovered the basic psychosocial problem, the stages of the process of emergence from depression and the strategies used within that process. The middle range theory describes the experiential process for people with moderate depression in four stages: belief in practitioner, self and future self, integrating all aspects of self, accessing inner strength and resources and engaging with life. The case study aspect of the research entailed placing the information gathered during the HT sessions on a trajectory for each person thereby honouring each individual's process.