Abstract

This research delves into the researcher’s personal experience with parental mental illness. The intention was to develop a deeper understanding of the sentiments, challenges and overarching social impact that this significant life factor has on the adult-child. The foundation of this re- search is based on attachment theory, which is used to facilitate a personal reflection of my journey. The results provide an opportunity to reframe the narrative surrounding the stigma of mental illness, and the parent-child relationship. Through a heuristic arts-based research, the researcher reflects on past and present recollections with the aim of gaining new insight on how these personal unveiling can support the growing topic of parental mental illness in art therapy. A heuristic arts-based exploration is applied and follows Moustakas’s six phases. Following a literature review, five personal artifacts that are significant to the researcher’s lived experience are explored, and artwork is created in response to each item. Upon reflecting on these artifacts using Pat Allen’s witness process, the researcher teases apart themes from the data and provides insight towards this topic. This research acts in protest of social stigma surrounding parental mental ill- ness and encourage an openness in society about such themes. Furthermore, the findings contribute personal insight to the existing research on parental mental illness from an adult child’s perspective.