Objective(s): There are high rates of trauma in people who experience
psychosis and a focus on the negative impact. The current study explores
people’s perceptions of factors that facilitate positive adjustment and
Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) following trauma, which is important for
developing interventions to support resilience and well-being. Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were completed by eleven people with
experiences of both trauma and psychosis. Transcripts were subject to
thematic analysis. Results: Participants welcomed the idea of growth and
stressed the importance of hearing growth stories from other people with
similar experiences and practitioners. However, growth was considered a
sensitive topic that clinicians should introduce tentatively to not
undermine the potential suffering caused by trauma. Participants
effectively used various strategies to deal with their traumas,
including some typically considered maladaptive by clinicians (e.g.,
avoidance and self-harm). Conclusion: When working with trauma in the
context of psychosis, mental health professionals should formulate
behaviours in terms of whether or not they are functional to a specific
moment and environment, rather than routinely consider methods of coping
as adaptive or maladaptive. Our findings also highlight the importance
of assessing and supporting recovery from trauma rather than just from
psychotic symptoms and suggest that clinicians should offer
interventions for fostering PTG in psychosis, such as supporting access
to a diverse range of narratives about adapting to life beyond trauma.