When the desert starts to bloom: moving beyond depressive reality

In this article a person-centred therapist discusses how, in the aftermath of trauma and crisis, people can move beyond depressive reality, and how the concept of the actualizing tendency can help in understanding this process. The author examines research on the impact of a nadir event, the experience of one of the very lowest points of life. Those who survive severe trauma often lose their faith in God, their trust in others and their sense of meaning. Their world has become a psychological desert empty of hope, and some accept this as a depressive reality. Yet as a result of the actualizing tendency, some trauma survivors see their desert start to bloom. They experience positive growth, including renewed appreciation of life, recognition of personal strength, a sense of new possibilities, better relationships, new meaning in existence, a greater sense of connection to something greater than themselves, and deeper compassion. Meaning making is an important factor in growth, and reflection seems to play an important role. The author considers the special case of childhood sexual abuse, and discusses implications for therapy for all types of nadir experiences.