Hablando del Corazón: A Phenomenological Exploration of Immigrant Latina Women’s Experiences in Mental Health Groups

The purpose of the present study was to acquire knowledge of Latina immigrant women’s psychological experiences of participating in mental health groups through exploration of the actual situation, as lived through and experienced by the women. The present study aimed to gain an understanding of women’s experiences, women’s relational experiences with others, and the meaning of the women’s experiences in mental health groups. The central phenomenological question guiding this study is, What is the lived psychological meaning of Latina immigrant women’s experiences in mental health groups with other Latina immigrant women? In order to explore and understand the phenomenon under investigation, a descriptive phenomenological qualitative analysis (Giorgi et al., 2017) was utilized for the research design and overall methodology to understand the meaning that the group members place on the group (Patton, 2002) and to determine the essence of their lived experiences (Creswell et al., 2007). For data collection, I sought voluntary participation of women who were at the time or previously engaged in a mental health group for Latina immigrant women. I, as the primary researcher, and two colleagues, as research assistants, conducted individual semi-structured, in-person, in-depth interviews with each of the volunteer participants. All ten recordings were transcribed verbatim using professional online transcription services in the original language used by the participant and interviewer (Spanish, English, or a combination of both). As a research team, we analyzed the data according to the descriptive phenomenological methods outlined by Giorgi et al. (2017). Results revealed four psychological structures of the experience of participating in a mental health group: disconnection and isolation, relational liberation, healing from adversity, and group logistics and future recommendations. This study illuminates the experiences of Latina immigrant women in mental health groups in a largely majority White area of the country including processes that made it safe to share, shifts in relating to others and to themselves, and mental health changes. The findings from this study have important implications for improving culturally responsive mental health group services with Latina immigrant women, and for highlighting the importance of their contributions and their ideas of what is best for their own healing and empowerment