What is Post Traumatic Growth?

by Laura Cole, MSW, SWLC

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to meaningful personal changes/growth after a crisis or traumatic event. “The individual has not only survived, but has experienced changes that are viewed as important, and that go beyond what was the previous status quo. Posttraumatic growth is not simply a return to baseline-it is an experience of improvement that for some persons is deeply profound” (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004).

PTG is not a way about diminishing the impact of trauma or excusing away someone’s abusive behavior, rather it is about acknowledging meaningful personal changes that trauma survivors have observed in themselves.

Some examples of PTG include:

1. Deeper relationships: greater sense of closeness with other, more willingness to express emotions, more compassion for others, putting more effort into relationships, and seeing positive qualities in other people.

2. Tapping into new possibilities: developing new interests and hobbies, establishing a new path for life, doing things with life that feel more aligned, finding new opportunities.

3. Spiritual & existential change: having greater clarity about life’s meaning, having a better understanding of spiritual matters, and having a stronger religious faith

4. Personal strength: a greater sense of self-reliance, knowing you can handle difficulties, more acceptance of things out of your control.

5. Appreciation for life: greater appreciation for the value of life, changed priorities about what is important to you, finding it easier to tap into appreciation for each day.

Trauma survivors who want to cultivate growth can strive to process the experience once they have space from it; it’s nearly impossible to evolve in the middle of a crisis, but reflection in its aftermath can provide a foundation for growth. Survivors can explore how the experience changed their mindset, if they appreciate life in a new way, whether their relationships have deepened, or whether they embody a new sense of spirituality (Post-traumatic growth, n.d)

We need to remember each individual’s experience is going to be very different and must be judged on its own terms. The priority should be providing whatever support they personally need to come to terms with their trauma, whether they are reporting distress or growth – or both at the same time – without imposing a narrative on their recovery (Robson, 2022).

Treatments that can aid a person to heal from trauma and work toward Post Traumatic Growth are talk therapy, EMDR, SE, IFS, Mindfulness and Psychodynamic therapy. 

Bibiliography

Robson, D. (2022, March 13). The complicated truth of post-traumatic growth. BBC Worklife. Retrieved June 19, 2022, from https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220311-the-complicated-truth-of-post-traumatic-growth

Sussex Publishers. (n.d.). Post-traumatic growth. Psychology Today. Retrieved June 19, 2022, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/post-traumatic-growth

Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Target article: "posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence". Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli1501_01