CITATION: Tosone, C. (2011). The legacy of September 11th: Shared trauma, therapeutic intimacy & professional post-traumatic growth. Traumatology, 17(3), 25-29.

ABSTRACT: This article describes the personal & professional experiences of the author as a result of her direct exposure to the World Trade Center Disaster. The author proposes the use of the term "shared #trauma" to describe the experience of clinicians exposed to the same collective trauma as their clients. Shared trauma can result in the blurring of clinician–client roles, increased #clinician self-disclosure & emphasis on the shared nature of the experience. Posttraumatic #growth can also occur, including in the professional realm where clinicians develop a renewed appreciation for the value of the profession, learn to initiate greater safeguards in protecting personal time, & gain an intimate understanding of patients’ traumatic experiences. The results of her 9/11 research as well as plans for collaborative #research in environments characterized by chronic acts of terrorism or exposure to natural disasters are summarized. ☮

THE LEGACY OF 9/11: SHARED TRAUMA, THERAPEUTIC INTIMACY & PROFESSIONAL POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH

INTEGRATIVE DBT & PSYCHOTHERAPY