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Empowering people with acquired brain injury to master their well-being: a thematic analysis of participant experience of an 8-week positive psychotherapy group

Kelly Davies, Zoe Fisher Orcid Logo, Andrew Kemp Orcid Logo

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, Volume: 20, Issue: 1

Swansea University Authors: Kelly Davies, Zoe Fisher Orcid Logo, Andrew Kemp Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1080/17482631.2025.2595847

Abstract

Purpose: Despite lifelong challenges, people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) can live meaningful and fulfilling lives. Advancements in well-being science and positive psychology (PP), have shifted focus from reducing illbeing to fostering promoting, defined as striving towards excellence based on o...

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Published in: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
ISSN: 1748-2631
Published: Informa UK Limited 2025
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71029
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last_indexed 2025-12-20T05:28:49Z
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Advancements in well-being science and positive psychology (PP), have shifted focus from reducing illbeing to fostering promoting, defined as striving towards excellence based on one&#x2019;s unique potential. These developments make well-being an achievable goal for those with chronic conditions. Whilst emerging evidence suggests that PP techniques can enhance well-being in ABI populations, wide-spread application remains limited and unmet psychological and social needs continue. This study explored the feasibility and well-being impact of a psychosocial intervention, across three neurorehabilitation centers in Wales. Method: This qualitative study presents qualitative findings relating to participant experience of an 8-week group-based positive psychosocial intervention, collected during a from a mixed-methods randomised controlled, mixed-methods feasibility study. Twenty participants from the three neurorehabilitation centers participated in this study. Semi-structured focus groups were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, combining inductive and deductive coding, to explore meanings. Analysis: Five themes reflected participant views on the feasibility of the intervention and three on its impact. Participants valued the holistic design, structured psychoeducation, and emphasis on building psychological resources. These findings demonstrate that well-being can be actively enhanced in people with ABI through structured group-based PP interventions. Participants described psychological &#x2018;boosts&#x2019; and gains in motivation, self-efficacy, and the capacity to sustain well-being. Conclusion: These insights provide a strong foundation and practical guidance for a full-scale RCT and future implementation. 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spelling 2025-12-19T12:41:19.0356825 v2 71029 2025-12-01 Empowering people with acquired brain injury to master their well-being: a thematic analysis of participant experience of an 8-week positive psychotherapy group 7e22474af11795325b38605a07abe2d1 Kelly Davies Kelly Davies true false b7d5965d35de6f683716c6eb1e82ff81 0000-0001-8150-2499 Zoe Fisher Zoe Fisher true false dfd05900f0e2409d3f67dca227c59a93 0000-0003-1146-3791 Andrew Kemp Andrew Kemp true false 2025-12-01 Purpose: Despite lifelong challenges, people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) can live meaningful and fulfilling lives. Advancements in well-being science and positive psychology (PP), have shifted focus from reducing illbeing to fostering promoting, defined as striving towards excellence based on one’s unique potential. These developments make well-being an achievable goal for those with chronic conditions. Whilst emerging evidence suggests that PP techniques can enhance well-being in ABI populations, wide-spread application remains limited and unmet psychological and social needs continue. This study explored the feasibility and well-being impact of a psychosocial intervention, across three neurorehabilitation centers in Wales. Method: This qualitative study presents qualitative findings relating to participant experience of an 8-week group-based positive psychosocial intervention, collected during a from a mixed-methods randomised controlled, mixed-methods feasibility study. Twenty participants from the three neurorehabilitation centers participated in this study. Semi-structured focus groups were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, combining inductive and deductive coding, to explore meanings. Analysis: Five themes reflected participant views on the feasibility of the intervention and three on its impact. Participants valued the holistic design, structured psychoeducation, and emphasis on building psychological resources. These findings demonstrate that well-being can be actively enhanced in people with ABI through structured group-based PP interventions. Participants described psychological ‘boosts’ and gains in motivation, self-efficacy, and the capacity to sustain well-being. Conclusion: These insights provide a strong foundation and practical guidance for a full-scale RCT and future implementation. By translating theory into real-world applications, this study highlights the potential of modern PP-informed approaches to address unmet needs and improve outcomes in individuals with ABI. Journal Article International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being 20 1 Informa UK Limited 1748-2631 Well-being, patient experience, positive psychotherapy, thematic analysis, neurorehabilitation, psychological boosting, acquired brain injury, improved outcomes 31 12 2025 2025-12-31 10.1080/17482631.2025.2595847 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) This work was supported by Health Care Research Wales (RfPPB-18-1502). 2025-12-19T12:41:19.0356825 2025-12-01T12:04:36.2102830 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology Kelly Davies 1 Zoe Fisher 0000-0001-8150-2499 2 Andrew Kemp 0000-0003-1146-3791 3 71029__35869__19d3cdbf245e4064980aabc8a94c8f2d.pdf 71029.VOR.pdf 2025-12-19T12:38:46.4552788 Output 2600815 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2025 The Author(s). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Empowering people with acquired brain injury to master their well-being: a thematic analysis of participant experience of an 8-week positive psychotherapy group
spellingShingle Empowering people with acquired brain injury to master their well-being: a thematic analysis of participant experience of an 8-week positive psychotherapy group
Kelly Davies
Zoe Fisher
Andrew Kemp
title_short Empowering people with acquired brain injury to master their well-being: a thematic analysis of participant experience of an 8-week positive psychotherapy group
title_full Empowering people with acquired brain injury to master their well-being: a thematic analysis of participant experience of an 8-week positive psychotherapy group
title_fullStr Empowering people with acquired brain injury to master their well-being: a thematic analysis of participant experience of an 8-week positive psychotherapy group
title_full_unstemmed Empowering people with acquired brain injury to master their well-being: a thematic analysis of participant experience of an 8-week positive psychotherapy group
title_sort Empowering people with acquired brain injury to master their well-being: a thematic analysis of participant experience of an 8-week positive psychotherapy group
author_id_str_mv 7e22474af11795325b38605a07abe2d1
b7d5965d35de6f683716c6eb1e82ff81
dfd05900f0e2409d3f67dca227c59a93
author_id_fullname_str_mv 7e22474af11795325b38605a07abe2d1_***_Kelly Davies
b7d5965d35de6f683716c6eb1e82ff81_***_Zoe Fisher
dfd05900f0e2409d3f67dca227c59a93_***_Andrew Kemp
author Kelly Davies
Zoe Fisher
Andrew Kemp
author2 Kelly Davies
Zoe Fisher
Andrew Kemp
format Journal article
container_title International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
container_volume 20
container_issue 1
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
issn 1748-2631
doi_str_mv 10.1080/17482631.2025.2595847
publisher Informa UK Limited
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Purpose: Despite lifelong challenges, people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) can live meaningful and fulfilling lives. Advancements in well-being science and positive psychology (PP), have shifted focus from reducing illbeing to fostering promoting, defined as striving towards excellence based on one’s unique potential. These developments make well-being an achievable goal for those with chronic conditions. Whilst emerging evidence suggests that PP techniques can enhance well-being in ABI populations, wide-spread application remains limited and unmet psychological and social needs continue. This study explored the feasibility and well-being impact of a psychosocial intervention, across three neurorehabilitation centers in Wales. Method: This qualitative study presents qualitative findings relating to participant experience of an 8-week group-based positive psychosocial intervention, collected during a from a mixed-methods randomised controlled, mixed-methods feasibility study. Twenty participants from the three neurorehabilitation centers participated in this study. Semi-structured focus groups were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, combining inductive and deductive coding, to explore meanings. Analysis: Five themes reflected participant views on the feasibility of the intervention and three on its impact. Participants valued the holistic design, structured psychoeducation, and emphasis on building psychological resources. These findings demonstrate that well-being can be actively enhanced in people with ABI through structured group-based PP interventions. Participants described psychological ‘boosts’ and gains in motivation, self-efficacy, and the capacity to sustain well-being. Conclusion: These insights provide a strong foundation and practical guidance for a full-scale RCT and future implementation. By translating theory into real-world applications, this study highlights the potential of modern PP-informed approaches to address unmet needs and improve outcomes in individuals with ABI.
published_date 2025-12-31T05:34:23Z
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