Healing After Trauma: Embracing Post-Traumatic Growth in Gender-Affirming Therapy

A young person outstretches their arms in the morning sun while hiking in the mountains

Introduction: The Path to Post-Traumatic Growth

Trauma has a way of reshaping our internal worlds. It leaves its imprint on the body and mind long after the initial event, often creating a lingering state of stress, anxiety, and fear. For many trauma survivors, especially those who experience marginalization, healing can feel out of reach. The trauma doesn’t just feel like it happened in the past—it continues to exist in the present, casting a shadow over daily life.

But within the depths of this struggle lies the possibility for something more. Post-traumatic growth (PTG) represents a path toward not just surviving trauma but thriving beyond it. This concept speaks to the idea that through deep reflection, supportive relationships, and effective therapeutic interventions, individuals can emerge stronger, with a renewed sense of self, more profound connections with others, and an expanded worldview.

While the journey toward PTG is never linear, it is attainable. The potential for growth exists alongside the pain, offering a vision of a future where trauma survivors are not defined solely by what happened to them but by the strength they develop as a result of it. This is especially important for trans* and queer individuals who face layers of systemic oppression. For these communities, trauma may stem not only from personal experiences but also from societal forces like transphobia, homophobia, racism, and ableism—often compounding the feelings of vulnerability and isolation.

In this blog post, we will explore the concept of post-traumatic growth and how it can be nurtured through various trauma-informed and experiential therapeutic approaches. From body-centred therapies like Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to the creative outlets provided by art therapy, each modality offers unique pathways to healing. More importantly, we will explore how intersectional and anti-oppressive frameworks ensure that these therapies are inclusive and affirming, especially for those navigating the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and other identities.

Post-traumatic growth isn’t just about “getting better”—it’s about transformation. It’s about re-imagining oneself and one’s possibilities in a world that, at times, feels hostile. It’s about embracing the idea that trauma doesn’t have to define us, and that through careful, compassionate work, we can rebuild a sense of safety, belonging, and purpose.

Understanding Post-Traumatic Growth: A Pathway to Transformation

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) refers to the positive psychological transformations that occur after an individual experiences significant adversity or trauma. Rather than simply “bouncing back” as in resilience, PTG involves profound shifts in perspective, self-understanding, and relationships. According to Miriam Akhtar (2017), PTG encompasses five key domains: a deeper appreciation for life, a renewed sense of personal strength, more meaningful relationships, an openness to new possibilities, and spiritual or existential growth. These shifts represent a transformative process in which individuals move beyond survival to a place of thriving.

PTG is not about minimizing or erasing the pain of trauma. It coexists with the acknowledgment of suffering and distress but emphasizes that growth can arise from hardship. This framework offers hope, especially for individuals who feel overwhelmed by the weight of their trauma. Rather than focusing solely on the negative impacts, PTG reframes the narrative to highlight the potential for positive change.

For trans*, nonbinary, and queer individuals, post-traumatic growth is particularly relevant. The systemic challenges faced by these communities—such as transphobia, homophobia, racism, and other forms of discrimination—often compound the trauma experienced on a personal level. Research shows that many in the LGBTQ+ community experience higher rates of trauma, including violence, discrimination, and mental health challenges, due to marginalization (Munroe & Ferrari, 2022). These layers of trauma can leave individuals feeling isolated and invalidated. However, with the right therapeutic support, trans* and queer individuals can not only heal but also reclaim their narratives and find strength in their identities.

Trauma’s Impact on the Body and Mind

Trauma profoundly affects both the body and mind, altering the nervous system in ways that often leave individuals feeling stuck in heightened states of arousal. This experience is commonly described as being locked in “fight, flight, or freeze” responses, even when the original threat has long passed. For many, the brain’s ability to process and integrate traumatic experiences is disrupted, resulting in hypervigilance, emotional dysregulation, and a pervasive sense of danger (Ogden et al., 2006).

The nervous system responds to trauma by activating the sympathetic nervous system, which releases adrenaline to prepare the body for survival. This results in increased heart rate, muscle tension, and rapid breathing—physiological changes designed to help us either fight or flee from danger. However, when trauma becomes chronic or unresolved, these survival mechanisms remain activated, causing long-term dysregulation. For example, individuals may experience sensations like trembling, sweating, or a racing heart even in non-threatening environments (Ogden et al., 2006). These are the body’s ways of continuing to signal danger, even when the immediate threat is no longer present.

For individuals within the trans* and queer communities, these symptoms can be compounded by the systemic barriers they face. Discrimination, microaggressions, and barriers to accessing gender-affirming care all add layers of stress to the trauma experienced by these individuals, further straining the nervous system. In this context, the body becomes not only a site of pain but also a potential pathway to healing.

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP), developed by Pat Ogden, offers a body-centred approach to trauma healing. This therapeutic method focuses on the physical sensations and movements that arise from trauma, helping clients to reconnect with their bodies and release stored trauma through mindful awareness and movement. By using techniques such as sensorimotor sequencing, which involves tracking and processing body sensations, clients can work through hyperarousal states in a controlled and supportive way. The body becomes a resource for healing rather than a source of distress (Ogden et al., 2006).

In addition to hyperarousal, trauma can also cause hypoarousal, a state of shutdown or immobilization. This response is often triggered when the nervous system perceives that fighting or fleeing is impossible. The body responds by engaging the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to a collapse in energy. Individuals may feel disconnected, numb, or frozen, unable to engage fully with the world around them (Ogden et al., 2006). SP helps clients move out of these states by gently reintroducing movement and sensation in a safe and controlled manner.

By working directly with the body, SP helps individuals recalibrate their nervous systems, fostering a sense of safety and regulation that is essential for trauma recovery. This approach is particularly beneficial for those who have experienced chronic trauma, such as trans* and queer clients, as it validates the body’s responses to systemic oppression and trauma while offering concrete tools for healing.

Healing Through Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: A Body-Centered Approach

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) is a powerful body-centered approach in trauma-informed therapy, offering a path for clients to reconnect with their bodies as they heal from trauma. Developed by Pat Ogden, SP emphasizes the creation of somatic resources—grounding, centering, and containment—that help clients regulate their nervous systems and reclaim agency over their physical experiences (Ogden et al., 2021). These somatic resources support trauma survivors in managing the physiological effects of trauma and help them re-establish a sense of safety and stability within their own bodies.

Trauma often disrupts the body’s natural rhythms, causing individuals to experience states of hyperarousal or hypoarousal, leaving them feeling trapped in fight, flight, or freeze responses. This physiological dysregulation can be particularly acute for trans* and queer individuals, whose bodies may already feel like sites of discomfort due to experiences of gender dysphoria or societal invalidation. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy offers these clients an opportunity to explore their relationship with their bodies in a safe and compassionate space, where both trauma and identity are affirmed.

One of the key strengths of SP is its focus on mindfulness of physical sensations. Rather than solely relying on verbal processing, SP invites clients to explore their bodily experiences—whether that be muscle tension, heart rate, or breath patterns—and how these sensations relate to their emotions and trauma history (Ogden et al., 2006). By bringing mindful awareness to these sensations, clients can begin to develop a more embodied connection with themselves. Grounding exercises, for example, are fundamental somatic resources in SP, helping clients cultivate a felt sense of stability by directing energy downward into their legs and feet, thus strengthening their internal foundation (Ogden et al., 2021).

For gender-diverse clients, SP can also be a transformative tool for alleviating the distress associated with gender dysphoria. A trans* client, for instance, might struggle with the sensation of disconnection from their body, as their physical form does not align with their gender identity. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy can assist these clients in gently reconnecting with their bodies in a way that feels congruent and affirming. By focusing on grounding and centering techniques, they can develop a new, more positive relationship with their physical selves, which in turn can reduce the emotional distress caused by dysphoria (Ogden et al., 2021).

In addition to grounding, centering exercises such as placing a hand on the heart and another on the belly can foster a sense of inner calm and connection. These simple gestures help regulate the autonomic nervous system, allowing clients to access a state of calm and presence that may have felt out of reach due to trauma-induced dysregulation. For clients whose trauma has made them feel unsafe in their own bodies, learning to “center” themselves can be a transformative experience, offering them a sense of control and empowerment (Ogden et al., 2006).

Somatic resources like these are not only effective for managing arousal states but also support deeper emotional processing. By reconnecting clients with their bodies, SP helps them to integrate the parts of their experience that were once too overwhelming to process. As clients build their capacity for grounding, centering, and containment, they gain the tools needed to navigate their trauma safely and to engage more fully with the world around them. This body-centered approach is especially important for individuals whose trauma has left them feeling alienated from their bodies—whether due to trauma or dysphoria—as it offers them a way back to safety, presence, and healing.

Art Therapy and Post-Traumatic Growth

Art therapy is an incredibly powerful modality for facilitating post-traumatic growth, especially for clients who find it difficult to articulate their trauma verbally. As Backos (2021) notes in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Art Therapy, creative expression allows individuals to externalize their trauma, giving them a tangible way to process and transform it. This externalization is particularly valuable for those whose trauma is deeply embodied, as it bypasses the limitations of verbal language, allowing clients to express emotions and experiences that may be otherwise inaccessible through traditional talk therapy.

Art therapy provides clients with a non-verbal, experiential process to confront and manage their trauma. This is particularly effective for trans* and queer individuals who may have complex relationships with their bodies and identities due to trauma compounded by systemic oppression and discrimination. Through creative expression, they can visually represent their trauma and, in doing so, take control of their narrative. This process helps clients reconstruct fragmented memories and emotions into a coherent story, enabling them to process their trauma in a meaningful way (Backos & Mazzeo, 2017).

One of the most profound impacts of art therapy is its ability to help clients externalize their experiences, making them less overwhelming. For instance, a client might use colour and abstract shapes to represent their gender transition, creating a visual map of their emotional journey. This form of creative expression can be empowering, as it provides a safe space for the client to explore and reframe their trauma through art, which may foster emotional regulation and self-understanding.

Moreover, art therapy supports clients in developing a coherent trauma narrative—a critical element in trauma recovery. By expressing the trauma through visual art, clients access implicit memories, which can later be integrated into a structured story about their trauma. Research supports the notion that accessing these nonverbal memories through art can lead to the development of a coherent trauma narrative, which is essential for post-traumatic growth (Chapman, 2014; van der Kolk, 2014).

For gender-diverse individuals, this process may also provide a compassionate space to explore identity and body-related trauma. For example, a client might depict feelings of dysphoria through fragmented images or abstract designs, later transforming these into cohesive art that represents acceptance or a newfound connection with their body. This type of transformation through art helps clients take control of their trauma, making it a tool for healing and growth.

Art therapy’s emphasis on the non-verbal, visual, and sensory experience is particularly useful in addressing the layered traumas that many trans* and queer clients face. By giving clients the freedom to explore their emotions through a medium that does not rely on words, it becomes easier for them to process complex emotions like grief, shame, and anger. Art therapy offers a flexible and accessible approach to trauma healing, encouraging clients to reclaim their identities and rewrite their narratives in ways that promote empowerment and post-traumatic growth.

Meaning-Making and Wisdom: Rewriting Trauma Narratives

An essential aspect of post-traumatic growth is the process of meaning-making. Trauma often shatters our fundamental assumptions about the world—leaving us feeling disconnected, unsure of our place, or uncertain about our future. However, through therapy, clients can begin to reconstruct the meanings they attach to their trauma, which is key to fostering PTG (Munroe & Ferrari, 2022). This reconstruction process is an opportunity to regain control over one’s narrative, helping clients to integrate their traumatic experiences into their lives in a way that promotes healing rather than continued suffering.

Meaning-making involves reflecting on the trauma and finding ways to transform it into a story that allows the client to move forward. As noted by Tedeschi and Calhoun, meaning-making can turn the experience of trauma into a catalyst for personal growth, offering new perspectives, personal strength, and an expanded sense of possibilities (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2006). This process is dynamic, often evolving over time, with clients gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and their trauma as they reflect on their experiences during therapy (Fivush et al., 2017).

Narrative approaches, including expressive writing and storytelling, can be especially helpful in this process. When clients are able to articulate their trauma in a way that makes sense to them—whether through words or creative expression—they start to see how their experiences have contributed to their resilience. Research shows that engaging in expressive writing about traumatic events can lead to greater psychological well-being, as it encourages clients to connect the dots between their trauma and personal growth (Pennebaker & Graybeal, 2001).

In therapeutic settings, wisdom therapy plays a significant role in helping clients adopt new perspectives on their trauma. Wisdom, in this context, refers to the capacity to integrate emotional and cognitive experiences in a way that fosters both personal insight and resilience. As clients work through their trauma, they often come to recognize the lessons learned, enhancing their sense of agency and mastery over their own lives (Webster & Deng, 2014). This transformation is not about minimizing the trauma but rather about seeing it as a part of one’s story—one that has contributed to their wisdom and growth.

For trans* and queer clients, meaning-making is especially significant, as it allows them to reclaim narratives that may have been shaped by systemic oppression, transphobia, or homophobia. Through the process of rewriting their trauma narratives, these individuals can not only process their trauma but also gain a deeper understanding of their own resilience and identity, which is essential for fostering post-traumatic growth.

Moving Forward with Post-Traumatic Growth: What’s Possible?

For trans* and queer individuals, the journey to post-traumatic growth (PTG) is layered with complexity, often intensified by the societal and systemic challenges they face. However, with the right therapeutic support—whether through body-centred therapies like Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, creative outlets like art therapy, or wisdom therapy—the path to healing can lead to profound transformation. These therapeutic approaches not only provide tools to manage the ongoing effects of trauma but also create space for individuals to reclaim their narratives, heal from within, and grow in ways that might have once felt impossible.

As therapists, it is our responsibility to create a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment for our clients, particularly for those in the trans* and queer communities. In this space, clients are empowered to explore their identities, trauma, and resilience in ways that honour their lived experiences. The process of post-traumatic growth is deeply personal, requiring an understanding that trauma doesn’t exist in isolation—it intersects with each client’s unique identity, experiences of oppression, and sources of strength.

For clients, the message is clear: trauma doesn’t have to define you. While trauma may have shaped certain aspects of your life, it is not the whole story. With compassionate guidance and therapeutic practices grounded in anti-oppression, healing is not just possible—it’s transformative. PTG is not about erasing the past or pretending the trauma didn’t happen. Rather, it’s about finding new ways to live fully, to create a life that is aligned with your true self, and to discover the strength and wisdom that emerge from the journey.

Let’s Continue the Conversation

If the ideas in this blog resonate with you, I warmly invite you to connect with me. Whether you’re a therapist seeking guidance on gender-affirming care or someone navigating trauma and looking for support, I’m here to help. You may book individual therapy sessions or peer consultations online. Be sure to bookmark this blog for future insights, reflections, and updates.

References

Akhtar, M. (2017). What is post-traumatic growth? Watkins Media Limited.

Backos, A. (2021). Post-traumatic stress disorder and art therapy. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Backos, A., & Mazzeo, J. (2017). Art therapy trauma protocol. In Managing traumatic stress through art: Drawing from the center (2nd ed.). The Sidran Press.

Chapman, L. (2014). Neurobiologically informed trauma art therapy with children and adolescents. Routledge.

Fisher, J. (2021). Transforming the living legacy of trauma: A workbook for survivors and therapists. PESI Publishing & Media.

Fivush, R., Booker, J. A., & Graci, M. E. (2017). Ongoing narrative meaning-making within events and across the lifespan. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 37(2), 127–152. https://doi.org/10.1177/0276236617733824

Munroe, M., & Ferrari, M. (2022). Post-traumatic growth to psychological well-being: Coping wisely with adversity. Springer Nature.

Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Trauma and the body: A sensorimotor approach to psychotherapy. Norton.

Ogden, P., Fisher, J., & Cantrell, S. (2021). Sensorimotor psychotherapy interventions for trauma and attachment: A workbook. Norton.

Pennebaker, J. W., & Graybeal, A. (2001). The role of narrative in emotion processing and health outcomes. Emotion, 91–110. https://doi.org/10.1037/10397-006

Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2006). The foundations of posttraumatic growth: An expanded framework. In Handbook of posttraumatic growth: Research & practice (pp. 3–23). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.

van der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.

Webster, J. D., & Deng, C. (2014). Narrating trauma: The potential for posttraumatic growth and wisdom development. Journal of Trauma Studies, 4, 100–115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-014-0162-1

Disclaimer: This blog offers general educational information and does not constitute professional advice or establish a therapist-client relationship. Please consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance. Any decisions based on the content are the reader’s responsibility, and Clayre Sessoms Psychotherapy assumes no liability. All case studies are hypothetical with fictional names and do not reflect actual people. We prioritize your privacy and the confidentiality of all of our clients. We are committed to maintaining a safe, supportive space for 2SLGBTQIA+ community care.

Clayre Sessoms is a trans, queer, and neurodivergent Registered Psychotherapist (RP), Certified Sensorimotor Psychotherapist, and Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC), offering online therapy for trans*, nonbinary, queer, and 2SLGBTQIA+ allied adults and teens across Canada. With a deep commitment to trauma-attuned gender-affirming care, Clayre integrates talk therapy, experiential collaboration, and creative expression to support clients to grow, heal, or navigate change. When not working with clients or supervising newly-licensed therapists, Clayre finds solace in nature, where she recharges her creativity and compassion.