Reilly, Mary Louise2018-07-102018-07-1019932018-07-10http://hdl.handle.net/1828/9665The purpose of this research was to gain understanding of women's experience of depression using a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Data was obtained from psychotherapy sessions with seven women who were diagnosed as clinically depressed. The sessions were audiotaped and then transcribed. The transcripts were analyzed using Van Manen's approach. Several interesting themes emerged from these transcripts: (a) living environment, (b) experience of time, (c) intimate relationships, (d) the body out of balance, (e) language, (f) medication, (g) symptoms, (h) distortions of thought, (i) telling the story, (j) from victim to survivor, and (k) coping strategies. The results of this research indicate that women have a knowledge and understanding of depression that is a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers studying depression.enAvailable to the World Wide WebDepression, MentalPhenomenological psychologyHermeneuticsWomenMental healthThesis