ln a posttraumatic situation after severe trauma there seem to be little or no resources left to rely on for coping. Traumatised people find it difficult to think of their personal future. The author has developed methods of rediscovering resources together with a person after trauma. This seems difficult, and it is not easy to ask the right questions in a humble and respectful way, but it is essential for coping. The author has seen many amazing people after severe trauma, lots of them refugees from many countries, who grow after trauma and change into someone new which was unimaginable before the trauma.
As a Kurdish proverb says it: "Every cow drop turns into usable dung one day". One question to be asked is: "What can one learn from the catastrophe you have just survived?" The earlier this question is put to a traumatised person, the better this person will be able to develop new strategies to cope after trauma. This opens the possibility to learn from the disaster for his/her personal development and growth. The author gives examples of such unexpected growth and stresses the importance of resource oriented work after trauma, illustrated by practical hints.
Recorded: October 2009, Dubrovnik - Cavtat, Croatia.
Coping & Resilience International Conference
Organiser: The Brisbane Institute of Strengths Based Practice
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