This final section of the book is a bit like the final bits of a textile art piece. The creative impulse is spent, the form is there, and now you need to sew it together, tidy up all the loose ends, weave them in, and finish it off. I have to admit this is my least favourite part of any project. I might not create so much artistic textiles these days, but I finished a jumper recently and for some reason chose stripes, which meant there were a lot of ends to weave in. My next project is a jumper worked from the neck down purely so there will be less to finish off. My intention here is to reflect on the value of taking space to consider my ontological perspective and how it has shaped my research, and bring together threads of how qualitative research, and particularly embodied and creative qualitative research, can border onto therapy, education, art, and science. The kind of research I have illustrated in this book has many positives; it captures and generates rich data and gives voice to those who are less often heard or who cannot easily express their stories in words alone. It allows us to find and express the rhythms inherent in our bodies, the bodies of our participants, and the world around us. It gives depth and richness when used alongside conventional research methods, and provides opportunities for engagement and dissemination that can have more impact with those outside of academia or our home discipline. However, this type of research can be challenging to negotiate, as techniques that intentionally open up the researcher and participant to the emotional content of stories mean that there is also the potential for risk, and to inadvertently wander over a boundary into uncharted territory.

Borders

The first border of qualitative research I considered is the one shared with therapeutic approaches designed to allow people to process their emotions and experiences. While researchers may receive training on methods, it is not common for them to receive the same kind of training and support on how to deal with people and their stories that therapists do. Researchers often choose to study emotional or difficult areas such as sexual or physical violence, mental health, poverty, or exclusion because of their own lived experiences.