What is Post Traumatic Growth?

Hello to all my self-healers👋🏾 Let's start with some background. Post-traumatic growth is a theory that was developed in the mid-1990s by psychologists Richard Tedeschi, Ph.D., and Lawrence Calhoun, Ph.D. They used it to explain how people sometimes experience dramatic positive change in the aftermath of trauma. Interestingly, they found that those who exhibit this response were not necessarily individuals who were considered to be highly resilient.

It was a segment of those who endured struggle through some form of psychological distress and had their core beliefs challenged that were able to move through to an experience of growth. This was especially true if those affected had other traits such as orientation toward the future or openness to new experiences.

You Don’t Have to Be Strong to Overcome Trauma

The great thing about this is you don't have to be a naturally "strong" person in order to overcome really hard stuff. While there is no doubt that most of us would choose not to experience really painful things, I like to think that growing through challenges, in spite of the pain, allows us to have the last word on those past events. So even though we can't erase history, we can do the work of not letting the past hinder our future. Perhaps we even let it teach us something valuable that actually enhances our future in unexpected ways.

Compassion Comes Out of Hurt

One quality I've often noticed in those who have experienced trauma through no fault of their own is how deep their compassion is for others. They know what it feels like to be vulnerable or hurt, and they are willing to stand up for anyone else in a similar position. I hold no romantic notions about the cost of the struggle to arrive in such a place emotionally,  but I do hold great respect for the journey it takes to acquire such big-heartedness.

Why Post-Traumatic Growth Matters

Of course, it matters very much the resources we have available to us in order to heal well from past hurts. In one study done on the female survivors of the April 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, it was found that the resilience response of certain study participants correlated with the increased perception of social support and increases in interpersonal resources for these women. It mattered that they felt connected to the community and were able to access a healthy holding space in order to recover their new sense of normal. 

We cannot predict or prevent everything

While our ultimate goal as a human race should be to take all actions available to us to eradicate any new instances of trauma, these events still happen to us and around us today. Prevention is possible in many cases, especially so when we individually and collectively do the work of healing intergenerational trauma. But where hurt has already had its way, we can remain hopeful and intentional about securing our own growth. Here's to turning disruption into transformation.

Interested in Starting Trauma Therapy in Charlottesville, VA?

If you're ready to begin working on post-traumatic growth, begin by meeting with me, Linda Sanderville a qualified trauma therapist, who can provide you with the support and guidance you need. Through trauma therapy, you can learn new skills for managing your symptoms, develop greater emotional resilience, and unlock your potential for growth and transformation. Don't let your trauma define you – take the first step towards healing and growth by following these three simple steps:

1. Contact me to schedule an appointment

2. Meet with me, Linda Sanderville, trauma therapist

3. Begin healing with your post-traumatic growth.

Other Services Offered at Satya Counseling and Yoga

At Satya Counseling and Yoga, I want to help you manage your struggles in any way I can. To help accommodate you, I provide online services throughout the state of Virginia for Individual Counseling, Trauma Counseling, and Couples Counseling. I also provide a Transformation Therapy Intensive to help with your personal growth. Learn more with my FAQs and Blog!

Blog References:

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/11/growth-trauma

Mancini, A. D., Littleton, H. L., & Grills, A. E. (2016). Can people benefit from acute stress? Social support, psychological improvement, and resilience after the Virginia Tech campus shootings. Clinical Psychological Science, 4, 401-417. doi: 10.1177/2167702615601001