Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is the positive psychological change that emerges from a person's effort to adapt to highly challenging or traumatic life circumstances, including loss. It does not deny suffering; it coexists with it. It includes greater appreciation for life, deeper relationships, new possibilities, and perceived personal strength.
Concept origin
Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996) coined the term and developed the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Research showed that PTG does not equate to absence of PTSD: both can coexist, and PTG emerges from active trauma processing, not denial.
Therapeutic approach
Interventions to facilitate PTG do not force it but create conditions for it: event narrative, meaning-making, social support, and post-loss identity work. Pennebaker's expressive writing and meaning-based therapies (Frankl) are complementary frameworks.
Related concepts
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