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The research encounter can be understood as an interaction between an individuated researcher positioned inside or outside a community or culture, a more fluid researcher testing and sometimes crossing the permeable boundaries of a shifting community, or a brief, fragile entanglement of dynamic trajectories. Within this last, relational approach, previous work identifies the agency of multiple past and present human social relationships in the co-construction of the research story, however, there has been limited reflection on (bio)physical, geographical, artefactual and other more-than-human entanglements. In this article, I use a creative, non-fiction approach to describe the processes, and challenges, involved in developing a dynamic, relational understanding of research encounters through an exploration of how (bio)physical, geographical, artefactual and other presences interact with ghostly geographies, histories and imaginaries in persons and places to influence the generation and analysis of research data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is acknowledged that care leavers experience an accelerated transition into adulthood, despite often having complex psychosocial needs with limited support networks. The 'Skills for Living' programme was designed to improve the psychological wellbeing of care leavers and offers an adapted Dialectical Behaviour Therapy skills group as its primary intervention. This paper provides a qualitative evaluation of the programme. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 10 participants, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Four key themes emerged: 'Initial Apprehension and Reluctance to Participate', 'Connection, Understanding and Validation', 'Confidence with Social Skills', and 'Emotional Acceptance and Self-Soothing'. Clinical implications and recommendations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]