Healing does not mean forgetting. It means becoming someone new on purpose.
Dear Colleague,
Trauma shakes the ground beneath a survivor’s feet. It can fracture identity, warp trust, and turn the future into something that feels either blank or terrifying. But healing is not just about repairing damage. It can also be about discovering new strength, deeper clarity, and a self that feels more aligned than ever before.
This is post-traumatic growth. And it is powerful.
It is not about being grateful for abuse. It is about honoring what grew in its aftermath.
Growth can look like recognizing patterns earlier. It can sound like saying no without apology. It may show up as reconnecting with old passions, or creating new boundaries, or dreaming again after years of survival mode. These changes often feel quiet or even conflicted at first. But they are signs of something sacred: a survivor reconnecting with life.
As providers, we must be willing to hold both grief and growth at the same time.
Help survivors notice their own strength without rushing them to move on. Reflect the insight in their words. Celebrate the clarity behind a boundary or the power in a pause. And remember that growth is not about fixing what was broken. It is about discovering what has always been strong.
Support survivors in exploring what’s next, not just what’s past.
The Reclaiming Strength Workbook is a helpful tool for guiding survivors through reflection, identity work, and visioning after abuse.
With appreciation for all you do,
#posttraumaticgrowth #supportsurvivors #reclaimingidentity #healingafterabuse #traumainformedcare