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.
This research explored the experiences of eight street involved youth living in north central, British Columbia using a narrative approach. The analysis was carried out using a three phase analysis based on the approach developed by Lieblich, Tuval-Mashiach, and Zilber (1998). The narratives represented the holistic experiences of the youth and the meanings they attached to their experiences. The themes that emerged from the data were organized into five main categories that represented the participants' experiences prior to street life, the challenges associated with being on the streets, supports, personal qualities, and moving on. Three metathemes were interpreted from the narratives: Trauma, Coping, and the Essence of Living. --P. ii.
