Help Wallis pay for her PhD about comics and trauma
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Hi, my name is Wallis, and I am raising funds toward paying my PhD fees. The aim of my doctoral research is to develop a therapeutic modality that uses autobiographical comics-making for people with trauma, specifically C-PTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder, most commonly caused by abuse and neglect in childhood). I have observed as well as experienced how healing it can be to work in this way, but I also know that it can be triggering and anxiety inducing for many number of reasons. I chose to embark upon a PhD to allow me the time and resources to thoroughly investigate how to bring such a powerful tool to more people in a safe and engaging way, especially in a time when there is limited affordable access to mental health facilities. I was thrilled when my proposal was accepted at Kingston University. However, I have not secured funding which is a massive blow. My personal income is too low to pay for it myself, but with some help I could manage to continue my studies part-time while I continue to work and try to source funding from as many avenues as possible.
Why I’m confident in this idea
Two years ago, I launched an initiative called ‘Safe Space for Hard Stories’, a monthly online reflective practice support group for autobiographical comics-makers. The idea was to create a safe buffer between creating and putting personal work ‘out there’ – a pressure that often goes unquestioned in our capitalistic society. The pilot sold out in a matter of days, and it has since been going strong with 100% positive feedback from participants that they felt less anxious about working on such difficult material. This happened simply from an idea born from my experiences within my limited reach – imagine what could happen if I had the resources to research more fully and take it to a wider platform?
Background
As a comics practitioner, I have experience of working with prisoners, adults with dementia, amateur boxers for social change, and survivors of brain injury to produce and share stories of lived experiences through the medium of comics. This line of work began 12 years when ago I started to write and draw about my own difficult experiences, and in doing so I discovered a vibrant, warm and welcoming autobiographical comics community - one that I didn't even know existed! It was a transformative experience, both within my own sense of wellbeing, and changes that began to take place in my outer life for the better. However, it was not plain sailing as I then encountered overwhelming guilt and shame for what I had exposed. This lead me to psychoanalysis which gave me a deeper, as well as more compassionate, insight into my actions, and opened up a new curiosity into the therapeutic value of making autobiographical comics. I then completed a Foundation in Art Psychotherapy which has provided me with further tools in my theoretical framework.
Funding
I will need to pay the University approximately £700 per term for the next 4 to 6 years as a part-time PhD student.
You can see examples of my comics and art work here:
and more about my online group here:
If you'd like to be kept informed about upcoming creative workshops I run, you can sign up to my newsletter through my website here:
Organizer
Wallis Eates
Organizer
England