“Just amazed at how much humans can actually survive…and that I think was really quite inspiring” : a phenomenological perspective of vicarious posttraumatic growth in psychologists : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (by thesis) in Psychology at Massey University, New Zealand

Abstract

Psychologists are routinely exposed to vicarious trauma through their client’s narratives. While the negative impacts of trauma work are well documented, less is known about the potential for positive impacts. Vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG) refers to the personal and professional growth that can emerge from working with trauma and which parallels posttraumatic growth (PTG) that can be experienced by individuals who experience trauma directly. Understanding psychologists’ experiences of VPTG and how to support their well-being benefits not only the therapist but also their clients and the profession and is especially relevant given the current shortage of psychologists amid unprecedented demand in Aotearoa New Zealand. This thesis aimed to gain understanding of the complexities of working therapeutically with trauma focusing on experiences of VPTG and coping strategies. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four psychologists and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to examine their lived experiences. The analysis showed that the psychologists were profoundly impacted by their work, and it triggered existential questioning and meaning-making which influenced their personal and professional lives in both positive and negative ways. Four themes emerged 1) Empathetic engagement with clients 2) Responses to engaging in trauma work 3) Coping with the impact of trauma work and 4) Changes to schemas and behaviours. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the personal and professional impact of trauma work and the coping strategies that can contribute to growth, particularly within the context of Aotearoa. Further research is needed to explore how growth can be promoted at personal, professional and organisational levels for psychologists in Aotearoa, who not only work with challenging content but also often within demanding work environments.