What Is Post-Traumatic Growth Coaching (And How Does It Work)?

Trauma changes us — but so can healing.

When we think about trauma, we often focus on what was lost: safety, trust, confidence, identity. But what if trauma could also be the starting point for growth, meaning, and even purpose?

That’s where Post-Traumatic Growth Coaching comes in.

What Is Post-Traumatic Growth?

Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) refers to the positive psychological transformation that can occur after experiencing adversity. First defined by psychologists Dr. Richard Tedeschi and Dr. Lawrence Calhoun, PTG isn’t about denying pain — it’s about discovering what can emerge from it.

People who experience PTG often report:

• A deeper appreciation for life
• Stronger, more meaningful relationships
• New personal strengths
• Clarity around their values or spirituality
• A renewed sense of purpose

How Does PTG Coaching Work?

PTG Coaching is a specialized, trauma-informed approach that helps individuals process their experiences, reframe their identity, and move toward intentional growth.

Here’s what sets it apart:

🧠 Strengths-Based: Focuses on internal resources, not deficits

💬 Narrative Work: Helps clients re-author their life stories

🧭 Meaning-Making: Encourages exploration of values and life purpose

🌱 Future-Oriented: Clients are guided toward growth, not just recovery

A PTG coach provides a safe, structured space where healing and transformation can happen — ethically and supportively.

Is It Therapy?

No — PTG Coaching is not therapy. Coaches are not there to diagnose or treat trauma. Instead, they work with clients who are stable and ready to look ahead, helping them explore how they want to grow from what they’ve been through.

Therapists focus on the past. PTG coaches focus on the possibility ahead.

Who Is It For?

PTG Coaching may benefit anyone who has:

• Lived through a traumatic or life-altering event
• Reached a point of stability and is ready to grow
• Felt stuck after healing and is seeking deeper purpose
• Experienced personal loss, illness, or major transition

Final Thoughts

Post-traumatic growth is real — and coaching can be a powerful ally in the process.

Whether you're looking for support or feel called to support others, PTG Coaching is a framework that nurtures both healing and hope.