Positive Change Processes and Post-traumatic Growth in People Who Have Experienced Childhood Abuse: Understanding Vehicles of Change

Post-traumatic growth is an emerging area of research concerned with the positive psychological changes that can follow the experience of traumatic events. The aim of this study is to explore themes of post-traumatic growth within personal experience narratives of individuals who have experienced some form of early emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Using thematic analysis, we identified three domains of themes related to positive change processes: inner drive toward growth, vehicles of change, and psychological changes. Understanding the different vehicles of change has implications for facilitating post-traumatic growth in clients who have experienced traumatic events.