Wounded healer therapists: A legacy of developmental trauma

Authors

  • Pat Bond counsellor in private practice

Keywords:

developmental trauma, PTSD, trauma therapy, diversity

Abstract

My research asks, 'what impact might a personal history of complex developmental trauma have on a counsellor’s experience of, and work with, traumatised clients?' Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 experienced therapists who had self-identified as having been traumatised as children. A seventh contribution is a reflective narrative of my own story. Three of the themes which emerged in a phenomenologically orientated qualitative bricolage were: help-seeking, trauma treatments, and survival strategies. The analysis uncovered considerable diversity of both narrative and meaning-making, even in this small sample of participants and this was reflected in the participants’ diverse beliefs about what constitutes effective practice in trauma therapy. Their experience challenges the espousal of standard treatment protocols seen in some primary care and substance abuse services and calls for greater flexibility in both practice and research strategy. Discussion is offered around diversity, research approaches, and the use of personal experience in the therapy room which have implications for therapist training, therapist self-care, therapeutic strategies, and further research.

Author Biography

Pat Bond, counsellor in private practice

I am a counsellor and supervisor in private practice in the North East of England, having qualified in 2006 near the end of a long career in science. Much of my CPD has been trauma-related, culminating in 2018 with a PhD from the University of Edinburgh. Much of my formal counselling work is with clergy, and informally I have a passionate interest in supporting asylum seekers and refugees.

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Published

08/03/2020

How to Cite

Bond, P. (2020). Wounded healer therapists: A legacy of developmental trauma. European Journal for Qualitative Research in Psychotherapy, 10, 68–81. Retrieved from https://www.ejqrp.org/index.php/ejqrp/article/view/93

Issue

Section

Articles