Discussion Problem: Trauma and Time
When Jamal, 16, broke up with his first girlfriend when in high school, he confessed to his father that he was devastated. His father counseled him to give it some time; that it will hurt for a while, but that it will get better.
When Helen lost her husband of forty years, the grief felt overwhelming. She sought counsel from a friend whose husband had passed a few years prior. Her friend advised that things would be different, but the grief will pass with time. She told her to be patient and that time heals all wounds.
However, psychological trauma may heal differently than a cut or a pulled muscle. Strong emotions associated with a trauma such as grief, terror, or anger may have a different relationship with time. In this Discussion, you will examine how trauma is, and is not, affected by time. Want Professional Help?
Resources:
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
To Prepare
- Review the Learning Resources and Course Announcements.
- Consider how a crisis or traumatic event can affect an individual over time.
Post your response to the following:
- Myer and Moore (2006) cite Bronfenbrenner's assertion that a crisis has "varying degrees of impact on an individual's development, and this impact decreases with the passage of time" (p. 143). In contrast, van der Kolk asserts that "the event is not the trauma" (Video, located in Wk2 resources, 1:05:45). In her video presentation, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris connects trauma and adversity in children to adverse health outcomes in adults. In other words, van der Kolk and Harris do not argue that the impact of trauma decreases incrementally over time. In your opinion, how does the passage of time after a crisis or trauma affect survivors of that trauma or crisis? Support your rationale.
Ted. (2015, February 17). How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime [Video]. Nadine Burke Harris.
Note: Time Estimate 16min.
Walden University, LLC (Producer). (2010a). Crisis counseling competence, part 1 [Video].
Note: Time Estimate 13 min
Walden University, LLC (Producer). (2010a). Crisis counseling competence, part 2 [Video].
Note: Time Estimate 9 min
van der Kolk, B. (Producer). (n.d.). Bessel van der Kolk on understanding trauma. [Video File]. Psychotherapy.