A preliminary model of enduring positive change in professionals working with trauma survivors.

It has been suggested that professionals working with trauma survivors can experience positive change and growth, but there is a dearth of research evidence. Therefore this study aimed to develop a preliminary model, grounded in data, encapsulating the processes and outcomes involved in positive change in a sample of these professionals.
Twelve professionals (clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, a psychiatrist, and a solicitor) with experience of working with trauma survivors were interviewed about their experiences of positive change in relation to their work. Semi-structured interviews were audio taped, transcribed and analysed using a grounded theory approach.
A model was developed for an episode of positive change, based upon four main processes that seemed to follow on from each other: key experiences in the work, emotional disruption, coping, and enduring positive changes. Conditions that influenced the intensity of emotional disruption experienced by professionals were also identified.
The model of enduring positive change provides a fuller account of the growth processes and outcomes than previous literature to date. The main implication is that experiencing an emotional disruption as a consequence of the work can be a normal reaction to the work, and it may eventually lead to enduring positive change. This has further implications for training, supervision and continued professional development.