emotional

Growth Through Adversity

By Wilma McLaughlin, MA, LCPC

raumas are any event out of the range of normal life and may include events such as death of a loved one, divorce, serious illness or injury, sexual assault, terrorist attack, military combat, and natural disaster. The severity of the trauma is determined by the nature, the duration, and the extent of the event or crisis. Yet, despite their severity, a traumatic event is sometimes viewed as a turning point in a persons life, one through which the individual reassessed what was important in life, even discovered abilities and strengths of which they were unaware prior to the trauma. While individuals with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often find it difficult to perceive benefit from their trauma, it is believed that PTSD-type symptoms indicate a persons unconscious attempt to utilize natural processes to rebuild themselves and make sense of the trauma.1 It is this innate positive potential in clients, and ourselves, that fuels the possibility for positive psychological growth following trauma or adversity. As therapists working from the perspective of the illness mindset, we often fail to acknowledge positive psychological change, or growth, as an unexpected product of trauma and or loss. It could even be said that there is sometimes a tendency in psychotherapy to pathologize by concentrating only on the negative symptoms presented post trauma. Yet, studies have found perceived benefit, or positive psychological change, reported in as many as 75 percent to 90 percent of cases of persons post trauma, with perceived positive change in emotional adjustment strengthening over time.2
Page 8 Healthy Cells Magazine Bloomington August 2013

Post trauma growth (PTG) is not to be confused with, nor considered the same as, finding meaning in the trauma or loss. A trauma or loss may never make sense. Some may feel that life is not fair or just, and there is often no understanding as to why. Questions such as how did you survive or what did you do to survive can serve to shift the focus of the life-changing event from why to one of awareness of positive psychological change. Positive psychological change, or post trauma growth, is more about gaining awareness of ones ability to survive loss and experience growth despite and through the depth of the loss. Post trauma growth often will coexist with some degree of distress due to the reality of the traumatic event. Post trauma growth is individual, may occur in some areas but not all, and is acquired through the struggle of coping with the reality of the trauma, accommodating the trauma within ones existing worldview.3 Areas of positive psychological change following trauma include: Relating to others: Strengthens good relationships; an increased sense of connectedness with others; develops more compassion for others especially those who have suffered in similar losses/ trauma (e.g., I found out who my true friends were who were there for me I want to be there for others who have hurt like me). Changes in the persons self concept: Increases confidence to be open to new possibilities; choices made with more conscious intent;

more likely to try to change things that need changing; feeling stronger and finding hidden abilities and strengths (e.g., I have, I can, I will). Altered life perspective concerning the present, the future, and other people; often bringing about spiritual change and a greater appreciation for life; re-prioritizing life goals/tasks; change in philosophy (e.g., It (the trauma) was clarifying for me). In fact, an Inventory to Measure Posttraumatic Growth has been published for use as a tool to assess degree and areas of post trauma growth, and further identify areas in which positive psychological change occurs post trauma.4 Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidenced-based therapeutic intervention, which when used by therapists skilled in EMDR, has been shown to be effective with clients who have experienced negative life experiences and/or trauma. EMDR can relieve post trauma symptoms/distress, promote selfdevelopment and further positive psychological change post trauma. The EMDR eight phase treatment model addresses the experiences that contribute to post trauma symptoms, and those that can bring the client to a place of psychological well-being focusing on past trauma, present symptoms and future hope. Wilma McLaughlin, MA, LCPC, along with a number of therapists at Agape Counseling, are skilled in EMDR and welcome clients who have experienced loss/trauma in the past, more recently, or have experienced multiple life traumas. Agape Counseling is a group private practice specializing in Christian counseling. For in Him we live, and move, and exist. Acts 17:28. For more information, please con-

tact Agape Counseling, 309-663-2229. Their Bloomington office is located at 211 N. Veterans Parkway (next to Krispy Kreme). They also have an office in Morton and Peoria.
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August 2013 Bloomington Healthy Cells Magazine Page 9