Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth in Psychotherapy
Abstract
Previous investigations of the impact of trauma-related psychotherapy on clinicians have emphasized the hazardous nature of such work. The present study is the first exploration of clinicians’ perceptions of trauma work to investigate in depth the positive consequences of working with trauma survivors. A sample of 21 psychotherapists participated in a naturalistic interview exploring the impact of trauma work with a particular focus on (a) changes in memory systems and schemas about self and the world (the hallmarks of vicarious traumatization) and (b) perceived psychological growth. In addition to reporting several negative consequences, all of the clinicians in this sample described positive outcomes. These descriptions of positive sequelae are strikingly similar to reports of growth following directly experienced trauma and suggest that the potential benefits of working with trauma survivors may be significantly more powerful and far-reaching than the existing literature’s scant focus on positive sequelae would indicate.
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That 2005 study also described better understanding of a wide spectrum of human behavior, positive impact on spirituality, and greater recognition of personal strength.
“Opisano również lepsze rozumienie szerokiego spektrum ludzkich zachowań, pozytywny wpływ na duchowość iwiększe uznanie siły osobistej.”
From Does it only benefit the patient? Potentially positive impact of psychotherapy of traumatized people — on the therapist (2025) · cites this paper as [14]
The first in-depth qualitative study on the positive impact of working with trauma on psychotherapists, conducted in 2005, found that 86% of respondents confirmed change in three categories of post-traumatic growth: positive self-perception, interpersonal relationships, and life philosophy.
“Pierwsze dogłębne jakościowe badanie dotyczące pozytywnego wpływu pracy zosobami ztraumą upsychoterapeutów wykonano w2005 r. [14]. Aż 86% badanych potwierdziło zmianę wtrzech kategoriach wzrostu potraumatycznego: a) pozytywnym postrzeganiu siebie, b) relacjach interpersonalnych oraz c) filozofii życia.”
From Does it only benefit the patient? Potentially positive impact of psychotherapy of traumatized people — on the therapist (2025) · cites this paper as [14]
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Kearney, M. K., Weininger, R. B., Vachon, M. L. S., Harrison, R. L., & Mount, B. M. (2009) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2009.352 · Cited by 440 · see citing works
Paramedics’ Experiences and Coping Strategies When Encountering Critical Incidents
Avraham, N., Goldblatt, H., & Yafe, E. (2014) · Qualitative Health Research · doi:10.1177/1049732313519867 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Manning-Jones, S., de Terte, I., & Stephens, C. (2017) · Journal of Loss and Trauma · doi:10.1080/15325024.2017.1284516 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
University of Melbourne, Brunzell, T., Stokes, H., University of Melbourne, Waters, L., & University of Melbourne (2018) · Australian Journal of Teacher Education · doi:10.14221/ajte.2018v43n2.7 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Arnold, D., Calhoun, L. G., Tedeschi, R., & Cann, A.
- Affiliations
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte (US)
- ORCID
- Tedeschi, Richard
- Venue
- Journal of Humanistic Psychology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2005-04
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 239-263
- ISSN
- 0022-1678 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-650X
- OpenAlex
- W2133069221
- Cited by
- 298
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 2.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Humanistic Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- vicarious posttraumatic growth, vicarious trauma, trauma survivors, psychotherapists, trauma-informed psychotherapy, clinician perceptions, memory systems, self-schemas, psychological growth
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