Date of Award
Summer 8-23-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Social Work
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Social Work
First Advisor
Anthony Fulginiti
Second Advisor
Sophia Sarantakos
Third Advisor
Eugene Walls
Fourth Advisor
Nev Jones
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Abolition, Adolescent, Crisis mental healthcare, Involuntary psychiatric hospitalization, LGBTQ+, Social work
Abstract
Involuntary psychiatric hospitalization has life-saving and crisis-stabilizing intentions for queer and trans adolescents experiencing mental health crises; however, there are significant concerns about the adverse effects of this practice. This study employed two interwoven qualitative methods, interpretative phenomenological analysis and arts-based research, to gain a deeper understanding of queer and trans individuals’ adolescent experiences of involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. The theory of abolition was applied to examine the carcerality and identity-based oppression embedded within this procedure. Participant narratives and artwork revealed how involuntary psychiatric hospitalization is non-affirming for queer and trans young people in crisis, and the impacts of experiencing coercion, surveillance, and punitive measures during their mental health treatment left lasting consequences. The study findings highlight the urgent need to radically reimagine this practice for queer and trans adolescents. This study calls on social workers to critically examine their complicity in coercive systems and advocate for anti-carceral, affirming, trauma-informed approaches to crisis mental health care. Queer and trans young people deserve a transformative mental health system grounded in autonomy, collectivity, and compassion.
Copyright Date
8-2025
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Megan Doyle
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
276 pgs
File Size
3.3 MB
Recommended Citation
Doyle, Megan, "“My Body Was Never Mine”: An Arts-Based Phenomenological Analysis of Queer and Trans Adolescent Involuntary Psychiatric Hospitalization Experiences" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2622.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2622
Included in
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Social Work Commons