Working in the Field of Complex Psychological Trauma: A Framework for Personal and Professional Growth, Training, and Supervision.
Autor: Coleman, Anne Marie; Chouliara, Zoë; Currie, Kay
Publication year: 2021
Journal of interpersonal violence
issn:1552-6518 0886-2605
doi: 10.1177/0886260518759062
Abstract:
The aim of this article is to explore the positive and negative impacts of working therapeutically in complex psychological trauma (CPT), particularly the field of gender-based violence (GBV) and childhood sexual abuse (CSA), from the clinicians’ perspective. The focus was on the prospect of positive gains and growth for therapists. Twenty-one clinicians (n = 21; counselors/psychotherapists and psychologists) from National Health Service (NHS) specialist trauma services, a community mental health team, and specialist sexual assault counseling organization participated. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was utilized to conduct single one-off interviews and analysis. Six themes were identified: Called to the work; Connection, Separation, and Oneness; Into and out of the darkness; Chaos into meaning; Reparation not repetition; and Expansion and growth. The first “Therapist Led Framework of Growth in Trauma Work” is presented. Vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG) was a key finding, with CPT therapists experiencing a “challenge/benefit/change” growth process. Adoption of actively relational strategies to enhance clinicians’ growth process through trauma work is being proposed. The benefits of conceptualizing both the positive and negative impacts of such work for supervision, training, shaping the formal curricula, service management, and continuing professional development (CPD) are being discussed. The need for good practice guidelines on self-care internationally is highlighted.
Language: eng
Rights:
Pmid: 29557712
Tags: Humans; Child; Counseling; *Sex Offenses; gender-based violence; *Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological; *Psychological Trauma/therapy; childhood sexual abuse; complex psychological trauma; State Medicine; vicarious posttraumatic growth; vicarious traumatization
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29557712/
