Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) - Heather Lynn Beveridge, Heather Earl

This presentation will explore post-traumatic growth (PTG) following a traumatic burn injury. It will include an example of PTG from a burn survivor.

A traumatic burn injury can occur at any stage of life. How people are affected, cope, and recover, is different for every survivor and their family. The common question following a traumatic burn injury is “Why did this happen?” Many survivors report that PTG helped them make meaning out of something so senseless. PTG is defined as “positive personal changes that result from a survivors struggle to deal with trauma and its psychological consequences.” PTG after trauma can be found in five areas: appreciation of life, relationships with others, new possibilities in life, personal strength, and spiritual change.