Posttraumatic growth is an area in which investigations are now being undertaken in many different parts of the world. The view that individuals can be changed--sometimes in radically good ways--by their struggle with trauma is ancient and widespread. However, the systematic focus by scholars and clinicians on the possibilities for growth from the struggle with crisis is relatively recent. There are now a growing number of studies and scholarly papers on the antecedents, correlates, and consequences of posttraumatic growth, and there are also theoretical models that can help guide the research further. It is clear, however, that this phenomenon is not yet well understood.
The Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth: Research and Practice provides both clinicians and researchers with a comprehensive and up-to-date view of what has been done so far. In addition, it uses the foundations of what has been done to provide suggestions for the next useful steps to take in understanding posttraumatic growth. The book offers contributions of important and influential scholars representing a wide array of perspectives of posttraumatic growth. This volume serves as an impetus for additional work, both in the academic aspects and in the possibilities for clinical applications of posttraumatic growth.
This Handbook will appeal to students, practitioners, and researchers working in a broad array of disciplines and human services.
"…Calhoun and Tedeschi bring together the leading theoreticians, researchers, and practitioners in the subdiscipline called posttraumatic growth (PTG). The importance of this field is that it already includes a rich history of empirical research demonstrating that posttraumatic growth can be operationalized, assessed, and enhanced. The editors and authors of this text do an excellent job of identifying the major conceptual and clinical hurdles facing this fledgling field of study. Adding to the value of the text are the numerous chapters devoted to various aspects of trauma and their positive manifestations following different kinds of negative life experiences. This book makes a very important contribution toward the evolution of clinical psychology. Many people have had their symptoms reduced but still seek meaning and purpose. PTG provides a scientific framework to help them on this journey."
- Frank Masterpasqua, in PsycCRITIQUES, Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books
Contents: Part I: Posttraumatic Growth: Theory and Method. L.G. Calhoun, R.G. Tedeschi, The Foundations of Posttraumatic Growth: An Expanded Framework. S. Lepore, T. Revenson, Relationships Between Posttraumatic Growth and Resilience: Recovery, Resistance, and Reconfiguration. C.L. Park, S. Lechner, Measurement Issues in Assessing Growth Following Stressful Life Experiences. R. Neimeyer, Re-Storying Loss: Fostering Growth in the Posttraumatic Narrative. R. Janoff-Bulman, Schema-Change Perspectives on Posttraumatic Growth. J. Harvey, K. Barnett, S. Rupe, Posttraumatic Growth and Other Outcomes of Major Loss in the Context of Complex Family Lives. Part II: Posttraumatic Growth in Specific Contexts. K. Pargament, K. Desai, K. McConnell, Spirituality: A Pathway to Posttraumatic Growth or Decline? A. Stanton, C. Low, J. Bower, Posttraumatic Growth After Cancer. H. Znoj, Bereavement and Posttraumatic Growth. R. Rosner, Posttraumatic Growth After War. J. Milam, Positive Changes Attributed to the Challenges of HIV/AIDS. D. Paton, Posttraumatic Growth in Disaster and Emergency Work. R. Lev-Wiesel, M. Amir, Growing Out of the Ashes: Posttraumatic Growth Among Holocaust Child-Survivors? R. Kilmer, Resilience and Posttraumatic Growth in Children. Part III: Clinical Applications of Posttraumatic Growth. R.G. Tedeschi, L.G. Calhoun, Expert Companions: Posttraumatic Growth in Clinical Practice. P.C. Fisher, The Link Between Posttraumatic Growth and Forgiveness: An Intuitive Truth. T. Zollner, A. Maercker, Posttraumic Growth and Psychotherapy. D. Meichenbaum, Resilience and Posttraumatic Growth: A Constructive Narrative Perspective.