In this episode, I talk to Richard Tedeschi about post-traumatic growth (PTG). We dive into how Richard became interested in PTG and the findings from his many years of research. As a clinical psychologist, Richard emphasizes the lived experiences of individuals⎯acknowledging that trauma and transformative change are very context-specific. We also touch on the topics of cultural differences, personality, and Boulder Institute’s post-traumatic growth program. 

Bio

Dr. Richard Tedeschi is professor emeritus of psychology at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He’s a licensed psychologist specializing in bereavement and trauma, and has led support groups for bereaved parents for over 20 years. With his colleague Lawrence Calhoun, he published books on post-traumatic growth, an area of research that they have developed that examines personal transformations in the aftermath of traumatic life events. Their books include Trauma and Transformation, Posttraumatic Growth, Facilitating Posttraumatic Growth, Helping Bereaved Parents: A Clinician’s Guide, and the Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth. 

Website: https://pages.charlotte.edu/richtedeschi/ 

Topics 

00:00:54 Richard’s interest in post-traumatic growth 

00:04:05 Definition of post-traumatic growth (PTG) 

00:06:01 Domains of PTG 

00:10:02  Perceived change VS actual change 

00:16:27 PTG as positive personality changes 

00:20:42  Boulder Crest Institute’s post-traumatic growth program 

00:26:01 Trauma as a disruption in the psyche 

00:29:16 Richard’s roots in humanistic therapy 

00:31:08 The subjective experience and response to trauma 

00:36:43 Cultural differences in posttraumatic growth 

00:40:24 Can posttraumatic growth and PTSD co-exist? 

00:38:42 Post-ecstatic growth 

00:44:50Catastrophe theory 

00:46:07 The pandemic as a potential catalyst for growth 

00:48:28 How to facilitate post-traumatic growth