My doctoral research investigates the embodied impact of trauma, with particular focus on survivors of sexual assault. Central to this inquiry is the use of Polyvagal theory as a metaphorical framework to explore how trauma manifests within the body and shapes the survivor’s physiological and emotional responses. This theoretical lens allows for a nuanced understanding of the autonomic nervous system’s role in trauma and recovery, particularly in relation to safety, connection, and self-regulation. Guided by Feminist Methodology and Hermeneutic Phenomenology, my research privileges lived experience, interpretive depth, and ethical engagement. These frameworks support a critical and empathetic approach to knowledge production, centering survivor voices and challenging dominant narratives around trauma and healing. Data collection involves in-depth interviews with fellow survivors and therapists, offering both experimental and clinical perspectives. Critical engagement with scholarly literature, establishing a theoretical and contextual foundation for the study. Creative practice, specifically through facilitated art workshops, where participants will explore healing. The workshops will serve as both a therapeutic and investigative space, allowing participants to externalize and transform their trauma through material engagement. These sculptural forms will be analyzed not only as artistic outputs but as embodied expressions of trauma and resilience. Further, the phenomenological experience of a curated fashion show and exhibition will be documented through survey questionnaires, capturing audience responses and bodily interactions with the displayed works. This interdisciplinary approach—merging feminist theory, phenomenology, and creative practice—seeks to illuminate the complex relationship between trauma, embodiment, and healing, offering new pathways for understanding and transformation.

Authors:
Keziah Craven, University of Canberra, Australia

About the Presenter(s)
Ms Keziah Craven is a PhD candidate at the University of Canberra, Australia. Her research explores the intersection of trauma and creative expression, focusing on the development of a visual and tactile language of trauma through wearable art.

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