Trauma has the power to alter the course of a person's life, creating invisible wounds that disrupt daily living, relationships, and self-identity. But within the depths of these challenges lies the potential for profound transformation and growth. Learn how to break free from trauma's grip and reclaim your life.

When I began my psychotherapy training in my early 20s, nearly every case involved trauma as the underlying issue. Trauma can severely disrupt personal and professional lives, leaving people feeling stuck. The cases I encountered stemmed from diverse sources, such as accidents, natural disasters, violence, and prolonged exposure to stressful situations. Before having children, I treated many survivors of sexual abuse, witnessing their struggles with guilt, shame, depression, flashbacks, nightmares, and other symptoms like social withdrawal, insomnia, and changes in appetite. Despite its debilitating effects, I saw firsthand that recovery is possible. One of the questions I grappled with was:

"How can we transform the darkness of trauma into a catalyst for growth and a more fulfilling life?"

The concept of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) provides a way to transform trauma into opportunities for profound development. Combining PTG with Greimas's Actantial Model offers a structured approach to overcoming trauma and regaining momentum in life and work.

Greimas's narrative framework has been a valuable tool in my life. Applying it earned me a PhD and helped me understand cross-cultural differences in life stories between Western and Eastern cultures (see Lae, 2019). Encouraged by my advisor during a period of stagnation in my PhD progress, I applied this model to my own life, gaining clarity and insight. I then used it clinically to help clients achieve similar clarity, significantly reducing their therapy sessions.

I remember a client I'll call Rose (not her real name) who was in her 60s. She initially presented with depression and anxiety, but we soon uncovered the long-term effects of sexual abuse she endured 50 years earlier. Rose felt trapped by her narrative of victimization. She finally found the courage and determination to break free from it. Through the therapeutic process, which included explaining PTG and the Actantial Model along with eclectic interventions, Rose faced her dark past and got unstuck. She successfully overcame her trauma and now lives a life she once thought impossible. Rose's journey exemplifies the potential for change through post-traumatic growth and the power of letting go of her old life narrative for a new one!

Understanding Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG)

Post-Traumatic Growth, introduced by psychologists Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun over two decades ago, refers to the positive psychological change experienced as a result of struggling with highly challenging life circumstances. PTG encompasses five key domains (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996):

1. New possibilities in life

2. Relationships with others

3. Personal strength

4. Spiritual change

5. Appreciation of life

According to Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004), PTG mutually interacts with life wisdom and the development of the life narrative. For a full explanation, their 2004 paper provides a good summary, and Stephen Joseph’s “What Doesn’t Kill Us: The New Psychology of Posttraumatic Growth” is an accessible read. For the clinician, Calhoun and Tedeschi’s “Posttraumatic Growth in Clinical Practice” is very helpful!

Greimas's Actantial Model: A Semiotic Narrative Approach

The Actantial Model is a tool used to analyze the structure of narratives. Introduced by semiotician Algirdas Julien Greimas in 1966, the model identifies three binary oppositions (axes) and six fundamental roles or functions (actants) in any narrative: Axis of Desire (Subject, Object), Axis of Communication (Sender, Receiver), and Axis of Conflict (Helper, Opponent). Greimas’s (1966) magnum opus can be a heavy read for those not familiar with semiotic theories, so Martin and Ringham (2000) provides a good introduction. Applying this model to the process of post-traumatic growth can help structure the journey from trauma to growth.

Applying PTG and the Actantial Model to Overcome Trauma

1. Identifying the Subject and Object (Axis of Desire)

In the context of trauma recovery, you are the Subject, and your goal of overcoming trauma and achieving personal and professional growth is the Object. Clarifying this relationship is crucial and fundamental as it defines the direction of your efforts.

2. Recognizing the Sender and Receiver (Axis of Communication)

The Sender represents the driving force behind your motivation. This could be your intrinsic desire for a better life, a loved one’s encouragement, your belief God wants to heal you or even a past experience that propels you towards growth. The Receiver is the transformed version of yourself who will benefit from achieving the Object and/or your family who have supported you. Envisioning your future self, thriving and resilient, can be a powerful motivator.

3. Engaging Helpers (Axis of Conflict)

Helpers are the resources and allies that assist you in your journey. In the context of PTG, Helpers can include:

• Professional Help: Therapists specializing in trauma can guide you through evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy and more (see the APA’s Clinical Practice Guideline here).

• Social Support: Friends, family, and support groups provide emotional comfort and practical advice, reducing feelings of isolation​​.

• Self-Compassion and Motivation: Being motivated and engaging in practices like prayer, mindfulness, meditation, reframing and self-compassion exercises can help manage distressing thoughts and emotions, fostering emotional regulation​.

4. Confronting Opponents (Axis of Conflict)

Opponents are obstacles hindering your progress. These can be internal (self-doubt, anxiety, negative thought patterns) or external (unsupportive people/environments, ongoing stressors). Recognizing these opponents is the first step in developing strategies to overcome them. Techniques like cognitive restructuring can help challenge and change unhelpful thoughts.

Subscribe to our newsletter below to access your free trauma recovery map, illustrated through the Actantial Model diagram.

5. Embracing New Narratives

One of the pillars of PTG is finding new meaning in life. This involves creating a new narrative that incorporates the trauma as a part of your story but does not define it. Reflecting on how the trauma has changed you and identifying any new strengths, values, or directions can be empowering. Narrative therapy can assist in this process by helping you reconstruct your story in a way that emphasizes growth and resilience.

6. Exploring New Possibilities

Trauma often closes certain doors but opens others. Exploring new possibilities and setting new goals can be a significant part of post-traumatic growth. Whether it’s pursuing a new career path, hobby, or education, embracing change can lead to personal and professional fulfilment. I have found in both research and clinical practice that when people pursue new Objects in the Axis of Desire, it could potentially restructure their lives and change their life’s narrative, which can be captured by the Actantial Model. This proactive approach helps shift the focus from what was lost to what can be gained.

Conclusion

Combining the principles of Post-Traumatic Growth with Greimas's Actantial Model provides a structured, narrative-driven approach to overcoming trauma. By identifying your roles and resources within this framework, you can navigate the journey from trauma to growth more effectively. Embracing PTG and utilizing these strategies can help you get unstuck in life and work, transforming adversity into a catalyst for profound personal development and fulfilment. I’ve seen it happen in my own life and in many others, like Rose, whom I had the privilege of guiding through the therapeutic process.

About the Author

Lidia Lae, Ph.D., is a writer, psychologist, and speaker, committed to empowering individuals and organisations to build healthier cultures for meaningful contribution.

Reference:

Calhoun, L. G., & Tedeschi, R. G. (2013). Posttraumatic growth in clinical practice. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

Greimas, A. J. (1966). Structural semantics. Paris: Larousse.

Joseph, S. (2011). What doesn't kill us: The new psychology of posttraumatic growth. Basic Books/Hachette Book Group.

Lae, L. L. (2019). Culture, self-narratives and autobiographical memory: Using a semiotic narrative approach to investigate cross-cultural differences (Doctoral dissertation, University of Melbourne).

Martin, B., & Ringham, F. (2000). Dictionary of semiotics. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1996). The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma. Journal of traumatic stress, 9(3), 455–471. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02103658

Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). " Posttraumatic growth: conceptual foundations and empirical evidence". Psychological inquiry, 15(1), 1-18.