Post-Traumatic Success: Positive Psychology and Solution-Focused Strategies to Help Clients Survive and Thrive

This is the first book on trauma treatment that combines the theory and practice of positive psychology and solution-focused brief therapy with traditional approaches. The author avoids focusing on pathology — i.e., what is wrong with clients — directing the therapist to what is right with them, i.e., from post-traumatic stress to post-traumatic success. The three factors of post-traumatic success — recovery, resilience, and improvement (post-traumatic growth) — are associated with bamboo, which symbolizes courage and endurance. Trauma specialists will learn how to help traumatized individuals get the most out of therapy and develop resilience. The skills described in the book will help increase clients' self-efficacy and self-esteem, as well as make therapy shorter, more effective, and more natural for both sides of the therapeutic alliance. The book is intended for all professionals and novice therapists working with patients who have experienced trauma (both adults and children), their families, and friends. The reader will receive a wealth of practical advice on adopting a more positive approach and expanding their therapeutic toolkit. Therapists are provided with over 100 exercises, 33 clinical examples, and 40 client stories.