Article

Posttraumatic Growth as an Integrative Therapeutic Philosophy

January 1, 2021
Journal of Psychotherapy Integration

The authors introduce a PTG-based intervention model that combines cognitive-behavioral, narrative, interpersonal, and existential therapies, emphasizing the significance of the therapy relationship through expert companionship.

This article provides a summary of the concept of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and how it is applied to psychotherapeutic intervention:

  • We briefly discuss the concept of PTG and empirical research that has identified 5 PTG outcomes and the processes that lead to these outcomes in the aftermath of trauma.
  • We consider a PTG-based model of intervention that integrates elements of cognitive–behavioral, narrative, interpersonal, and existential therapies while emphasizing the importance of the therapy relationship in an approach called “expert companionship.”
  • Finally, we describe PTG-based interventions in individual psychotherapy and in other forms of intervention with trauma survivors and offer a case example
Instead of thinking of trauma as a certain type of event as stated in DSM, the PTG concept considers trauma as a circumstance that can produce transformative change because of challenges to core beliefs.
Dr. Tedeschi and Brett Moore Psy.D., ABPP

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