Drawing from dissertation research at the intersection of ego development and post-traumatic growth, this session explores how people heal and grow in the aftermath of trauma and how developmental stage shapes that process. Ego development describes the evolving complexity of how we understand ourselves, others, and the world, while post-traumatic growth refers to positive psychological transformation following adversity.

Using constructivist grounded theory, this study draws on in-depth interviews with 11 therapists assessed at construct-aware or later stages of ego development, who work extensively with trauma. Findings suggest that developmentally aware therapists distinguish between healing and growth. Healing is understood as stabilization or return to baseline functioning and growth as developmental movement, manifesting as expanded meaning-making capacity, increased tolerance for complexity and ambiguity, greater relational depth, and shifts in identity structure.