After the harrowing year of 2020, understanding and addressing trauma is more relevant than ever. In supporting people who have survived trauma, our focus is commonly – and appropriately – focused on how we can alleviate the suffering associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and other painful consequences of traumatic experiences. Reducing suffering, however, may not be the only way that we can help people live well after loss, trauma, and adversity. It may also be possible to support people in uncovering opportunities for personal growth during their recovery process. Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to the positive psychological changes that can sometimes emerge as a result of struggling with adversity and trauma. These positive changes are different than the absence of, or recovery from, posttraumatic stress. In recent years there have been great efforts to better understand and foster PTG in individuals who have experienced adversity. In this webinar, participants will learn a research-informed perspective on what PTG is; how PTG is similar to and different than resilience or recovery; the promise and the pitfalls of addressing PTG with our clients; and how we might be able to facilitate PTG for the people we serve. Find out more about our provider well-being series with C4 Innovations here.
Ann Marie Roepke, Ph.D. (she/her) is a clinical psychologist, trainer, and consultant based in Seattle, WA. Her areas of expertise include resilience, well-being, motivation, cognitive-behavioral therapies, and the impact of trauma – including both posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth. Dr. Roepke strives to help people live well in the face of challenging circumstances, and has developed and tested multiple psychosocial interventions to foster growth after loss and trauma. She is dedicated to using interactive learning approaches to empower professionals to help others while tending to their own well-being. Dr. Roepke earned her doctorate in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center under the mentorship of Martin Seligman, founder of the field of positive psychology, and Angela Duckworth, expert on grit. She is an active member of the American Psychological Association, the Society of Consulting Psychology, and the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers, and host of the podcast Psychological Resilience in the Time of Coronavirus. More information is available at www.evoketrainingandconsulting.com.
