Abstract

Witnessing illness in childhood and hospitalization can be deeply challenging experiences for researchers, yet the emotional labor involved often remains unspoken. This article explores how one artist-researcher navigated the emotional impact of conducting research in pediatrics through arts-based autoethnography and reflective practice. Through drawings, journaling, and metaphor, the first author shares her emotional journey during a 4-month research period in a children’s hospital. A psychodynamic therapist offers a series of reflections on the emotional material presented, offering clinical insight into metaphors for emotional safety. Together, this dialogic format provides a model for understanding and supporting emotional well-being in challenging research settings. The article concludes that arts-based autoethnographic methods provide a powerful tool for reflection, emotional processing, and knowledge generation. Building on these insights, we introduce a preliminary framework designed to guide researchers working in healthcare and other emotionally sensitive environments through creative and reflective approaches.