The Use of Relational‐Cultural Theory in Counseling Clients Who Have Traumatic Stress Disorders

Abstract

Counseling scholarship has increasingly demonstrated the utility of relational-cultural theory (RCT) in promoting the relationship-building and growth-fostering connections many clients require to manage problems in living. The authors applied RCT to counseling clients with traumatic stress disorders rooted in traumas of an interpersonal nature (e.g., child abuse, interpersonal partner violence, sexual assault). An overview of traumatic stress disorders and RCT, as well as the ways in which RCT can inform trauma conceptualization and treatment approaches with victims, is provided.

Considering and Navigating New Relationships During Recovery From Intimate Partner Violence

“…Individuals in healthy intimate relationships are likely to benefit in positive ways, including better physical health; increased coping skills; better life satisfaction; and decreased symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety (Granello, ). Moreover, researchers have confirmed the role of relationships and social support in healing from interpersonal violence (Kress, Haiyasoso, Zoldan, Headley, & Trepal, ). In contrast, unhealthy and abusive romantic relationships have severe adverse effects on health, including the decline in physical health and increased psychological distress (Umberson, Williams, Powers, Lui, & Needham, ).…”

Survivors' Stories: Navigating Parenthood After Surviving Child Sexual Abuse

“…Furthermore, assessing survivors' connections is important because engagement in interpersonal relationships is integral to survivors' resilience and can mediate negative parenting behaviors (McClure et al, ). Counselors can help survivors by “exploring and renovating relational images” to learn how early relational images have informed their understanding of how relationships work and how one functions in relationships (Kress, Haiyasoso, Zoldan, Headley, & Trepal, , p. 110). Using a relational inventory to help assess their connections and teaching them skills to manage their responses to disconnection, counselors can help clients build relational competence and resilience (Kress et al, ), which is likely to enhance their parenting.…”

“…Counselors can help survivors by “exploring and renovating relational images” to learn how early relational images have informed their understanding of how relationships work and how one functions in relationships (Kress, Haiyasoso, Zoldan, Headley, & Trepal, , p. 110). Using a relational inventory to help assess their connections and teaching them skills to manage their responses to disconnection, counselors can help clients build relational competence and resilience (Kress et al, ), which is likely to enhance their parenting. Promoting relational resilience in clients benefits the parent–child dyad and future generations in the family.…”

Development and Evaluation of a Turkish Language Version of the Relational Health Indices

“…Accordingly, it is necessary to understand the concept of relational health for individuals from both individualistic and collectivistic cultures. Although initially, RCT had a focus on the experiences of marginalized women in individualistic cultures, after the development of a measurement tool based on RCT, the concept of relational health has been studied on various topics with various groups around the world (Frey, 2013;Kress, 2018;Lenz, 2016).…”