Posttraumatic Growth

To prepare for this discussion, review Riverbend City: Grief and Family Systems. After viewing the Riverbend City media piece, read the scenario below.

Assume the role of a life coach that Judith has been consulting for support:

As we saw in the media piece, Judith has maintained a distance from the family. In reality, Judith is traumatized by her brother's impending death because only he knew that she has a child she is parenting alone. She is afraid that his upcoming death will reveal that information and she will have to experience the critique of family members who knew nothing of this for the past 22 years. Living in California has assured her that her child with special needs and she can maintain a relationship, without the criticism of the family. Keeping this in the past has helped Judith and she quickly positioned herself as a religious opponent of Shirley and Sheldon in order to keep herself at a distance. Only Sheldon knew her secret and he never shared it with anyone. They have been very close and Shirley never knew about their weekly phone calls and his monetary support of Judith, who struggled financially for years.

Judith is concerned that Shirley, who has not accepted Judith, could discover her secret, if Sheldon were lucid enough to say something while lingering. She fears that if she visits, he might reveal her secret.

Judith decided to stay away until he passed, in order to preserve her secret. Judith is now going through the trauma of dealing with this and she has no confidante to share her own personal struggles with and ask for support. She has truly lost her best friend, unbeknownst to the rest of the family.

Complete the PTG Flow Chart Template, using the template provided in Resources.

• For each step in the flow chart, explain how that activity provides movement for Judith to growth from this trauma.
• Add in assumptions; the way she analyzes the influences of culture, and explain how she eventually grows through this process.
  • Use the Weiss and Berger chart from your text (page 6), to provide information on ways in which Judith can be guided to self-reflect and draw on her strengths.
  • How will we know Judith has experienced PTG?

This should include two scholarly resources (not including the text). Be sure to include relevant, required information, adequate explanations, and alternative viewpoints

This is a copy and paste of the template:

PTG Template

For each step, explain how that activity provides movement for Judith to grow from this trauma. Add in assumptionsthe way she analyzes the influences of cultureand explain how she eventually grows through this process. Refer to the Weiss and Berger char from Older Adults: Understanding and Facilitating Transitions to provide information on ways in which Judith can be guided to self-reflect and draw on her strengths. How will we know Judith has experienced PTG? Use as many or as few steps as needed.

1. Judith has a child with special needs, supported with Sheldon's help.