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vFacilitating Growth Through AdversityA Multimodal Program for Supporting Traumatized Immigrants

Eleanor Pardess, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist,

SELAH- Israel Crisis Management CenterPsycosocial Responses to Trauma, Resilience and Growth, Nottingham University.

1.7.2010

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Outline

• Background- The Selah model• Nature-based workshops • Roots and regeneration- Illustrations• Building bridges -Practical Implications

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Emergency outreach followed by a multimodal model of support

The SELAH Program

Target groups: • Grandparents raising

orphaned grandchildren.• Children coping with

sudden death of family member.

• Siblings raising their younger siblings.

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The Challenges

Uprootedness- Disruption of continuity, identity, culture shock, isolation

Immigrants Coping With Traumatic Loss

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Moving through Uncharted TerritoryMoving through Uncharted Territory

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The Response

A Network of Support

MOVING Encounters combining:

• Nature-based workshops• Expressive arts • Narrative practices

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From Recipients to Supporting Others From Recipients to Supporting Others

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The M.O.V.I.N.G. Model

Learning from the survivor volunteers

Participants • Bereaved parents or injured survivors of traumatic events• Active volunteers ( 3-8 years) supporting the newly bereaved and

injured

Measures

• Post-traumatic growth inventory (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1995)

• In-depth semi-structured interviews:Meaningful experiences? In what ways have you been moved? What difference has this made in your life?

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Facilitating Growth

Through Moving EncountersKey factors:

MMeaningeaningMMeaningeaningOOpportunitiespportunitiesVValidationalidationIInvolvementnvolvement

NNatureatureGGrouproup

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M - Meaning Making

Re-authoring life narratives through:• Shared Journeys • Exploring the “Landscape of Identity”• Bearing Testimony• Compassionate Caring

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O - Opportunities

“Space for individuals to express themselves in a way that strengthens them” “Opportunities to identify and tap into their coping skill…”

•V - Validation“Being touched by unique, authentic, and personal reactions of others Having one's vulnerability acknowledged as well as strengths.Experiencing others' presence and genuine interest in life left behind..”

•I - Involvement•Expressive Arts/Writing•Movement•Gradual re-engagement

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N - Nature - RE-CONNECTING

“Spending time outdoors”

“Connecting to nature”

“Connecting to oneself and to one’s natural resources”

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G - Group – Weaving Connections

Nurturing a sense of belonging

Building community

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Survival Dislocation Roots Regeneration

Moving Encounters in Nature

MOVING Moving in relation to oneself, others and the world.

RECONNECTINGTo oneself and to one’s resources, to community, to the

country, to nature and to life .

Workshop Structure:

•Outdoor Activity

•Creative activity

•Sharing

•Closure

ILLUSTRATIONS FROM WORKSHOPS

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Enhancing hope and belief in latent constructive forces of recovery and growth

Harnessing the transformative power of imagery and metaphor

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Nature provides endless opportunities to identify survival skills and to observe cycles of life, change and regeneration

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Illustrations

Roots provide anchorage in weathering the storms of life

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The reconfiguration of root systems

An overlooked dimension of growth through adversity

“When the roots of a tree hit a stone, do they try to shove it away or crack it? No, They grow around the obstacle…

The stone may slow down The progress of the tree growing for a while but no stone, no matter how large, can stop a tree from growing"

Illustrations

Reflecting on the struggle of the roots and rocky paths - Hagoshrim Selah Retreat, 2005

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Reconfiguration of root systems

“Some of these obstacles stay “a permanent part of the psyche, just as the stones surrounded by tree roots become part of the tree ..and actually support and strengthen the root structure of the tree while new roots grow and move far past the stones into new territory “

Matsakis, A. Survivor Guilt. New Harbinger 1999

Illustrations

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The search for meaning

Scarcity can promote extensive root development; The human struggle with adversity and the absence of answers to our existential questions, can precipitate a search for meaning.

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• Learning from expert botanists about the vulnerability that can be caused by root loss;

• Most transplanted trees are subject to stress-related problems due to tremendous root loss when dug out of original soil.

• Survival- A tree’s chance of survival and regeneration can be drastically improved through practices that favor establishment of the root system.

SURVIVING “TRANSPLANT SHOCK”

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SURVIVING “TRANSPLANT SHOCK”

• Dislocated plants need some of the ingredients from the former soil to keep the roots alive

Keeping Roots Alive

Illustrations

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Illustrations

“Uprooted plants first invest their energy in developing roots.During this stage they do not grow leaves or produce flowers or fruit, as that would be a waste of energy”Zvia Shapiro, Botanist

Posttraumatic growth is not only the manifest growth – the leaves or flowers, but also the reconfiguration of the root system.

Reframing the absence of manifest signs of growth

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Developing practices that may facilitate building bridges between past, present and future, restoring a sense of continuity through the “re-establishment of a strong root system:

•Narrative practices•Expressive arts/writing•Movement therapy- Grounding exercises

Developing practicesIllustrations

Applications to other populations

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Inviting survivors to tell stories from where they come from. Keeping roots alive and connecting tonourishing memories – “Such memories can comfort us, lift our spirits, and connect us to what is most important to us”

Re-”membering” Conversations- Narrative practices-Bridging continuity & integrating past and new roots:

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Re-membering Conversations “Saying Hullo Again”

Acknowledging pain as a tribute to what is precious

White (2007).

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Programs for Children & Adolescents

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Trees Bearing Testimony - Stories waiting to be told

Programs for Children & Adolescents Combining Expressive arts and Narrative Practices.

Illustrations

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Creating new memories

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Discussion

Facilitating growth in group work with immigrants- Practical guidelines:

•Language

•Culture

•Encounters with “otherness”

•Building bridges between past, present and future

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References

Denborough, D. (2009) Collective narrative practice: Responding to individuals, groups and communities who have experienced trauma. Adelaide: Dulwich PublicationsFosha, D. (2002). Trauma Reveals the Roots of Resilience. Constructivism in Human Sciences, 6(1&2), p. 7-15.Fredrickson, B. L. (2009). Positivity: Groundbreaking research reveals how to embrace the hidden strength of positive emotions, overcome negativity, and thrive. New YorkJoseph, S., & Linley, P. A. (2006). Growth following adversity: Theoretical perspectives and implications for clinical practice. Clinical Psychology Review, 26, 1041-1053.Joseph, S., & Linley, P. A. (2008). Trauma, recovery, and growth: Positive psychological perspectives on posttraumatic stress. Wiley: HobokenPardess, (2004). Moving Encounters- A Multimodal Model of Facilitating Post-traumatic Growth. Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, Toronto, CanadaPardess Eleanor (2005), Training and Mobilizing Volunteers. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma. (10) no 1 Pennebaker, J. (1990). Opening up: The Healing Power of Expressing Emotions. N.Y,. Guilford.Shalif, Y. (2005). Creating care-full listening and conversations between members of conflicting groups in Israel: Narrative means to transformative listening. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 24(1), 35-52Shalif, Y. & Leibler, M. (2002). Working with people experiencing terrorist attacks in Israel: A narrative perspective. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 21(3), 60-70 White,M.(2007). Maps of Narrative Practice. New York, W.W. Norton

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Thanks

E-mail- epardess@gmail.com