The healing experiences of adult survivors of complex trauma

Complex trauma is a critical area to explore in terms of the emotional, physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being of survivors. This research explored the personal experiences of 12 adult survivors of childhood trauma by interpreting the meanings they attach to their stories of healing. A three phase analysis approach adapted from the work of Lieblich, Tuval-Mashiach, and Zilber (1998) was carried out. Individual interviews were analyzed following a narrative approach to capture each participant’s perspective and meaning. The themes that emerged from the narratives were organized into ten main categories. Five overarching metathemes occurring across all of the participants’ narratives included: Trauma Effects, Establishing Safety, Reclaiming Self, Healing through Relationships, The Healing Journey. The results of this study add important findings that increase understanding of how to address complex trauma in counselling and health care settings in order to restore individual’s sense of safety and well-being. By targeting the possible issues linked to the seven domains of complex trauma that underlie the presentation of traumatized individuals, survivors will feel more supported in their recovery and may be more likely to access appropriate support.