Attempting to capture the ineffable quality : an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of an epiphany

Amos, IA

Abstract

Examination of how people experience positive change outside the therapy room is of use to those seeking
to support people who want to change within the realms of psychotherapy. The qualitative literature which
has examined the topic of sudden and profound transformation has mostly focused on the antecedent and
facilitative factors associated with this form of change. This study aims to explore the epiphanies of six
participants who took part in unstructured interviews. The data generated was subjected to interpretative
phenomenological analysis (IPA). Three major themes emerge: (i) Making sense of an ineffable experience;
(ii) Who I was, what happened, who I am now; (iii) Illuminating purpose – each associated with
a subtheme. A found poem is also presented for each major theme. The implications for therapeutic
practitioners, mental health professionals and educators are discussed. It is concluded that the empathic
understanding of such experiences may be enhanced from engaging with the dimensions of epiphanic
experiences described here.
Keywords: Epiphany; transpersonal; interpretative phenomenological analysis; IPA; meaning-making;
psychological therapy; psychotherapy.

Citation

Amos, I. (2021). Attempting to capture the ineffable quality : an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of an epiphany. Transpersonal Psychology Review, 23(1), 32-44

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 22, 2021
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jun 17, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 17, 2021
• Journal: Transpersonal Psychology Review
• Print ISSN: 1366-6991
• Electronic ISSN: 2396-9636
• Publisher: The British Psychological Society
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 32-44
• Publisher URL: https://shop.bps.org.uk/transpersonal-psychology-review-vol-23-no-1-2021
• Related Public URLs: https://www.bps.org.uk/publications/transpersonal-psychology-review
• Additional Information: Access Information : This is a pre-publication version of the following article: Amos, IA 2021, 'Attempting to capture the ineffable quality : an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of an epiphany' , Transpersonal Psychology Review, 23 (1) , pp. 32-44.