Professional Posttraumatic Growth After a Shared Traumatic Experience: Manhattan Clinicians' Perspectives on Post-9/11 Practice

Abstract

Clinicians who live and work in natural and man-made disaster-prone areas are often exposed to trauma primarily as citizens and secondarily as a result of their professional practice. In an attempt to better understand this increasingly common experience of collective trauma, this study explored the long-term impact of September 11 on the professional lives of 201 Manhattan clinicians. Participants reported that 9/11 was the impetus for enhancing self-care, changing clinical modality, and forging new skills. Positive changes were also reported within the therapeutic relationship, including increased compassion and connectedness with clients. Negative effects included feeling ill-equipped to work in the gravity of 9/11, an increased sense of vulnerability, and disappointment with professional organizations.