THE POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH DECK

Description

Trauma recovery occurs in three phases. Likewise, this deck is organized into three sections. You can think of this as the map of your healing journey:

Cards 1-18: Self-Discovery — Planting the Seeds of Potential

The first section focuses on building your coping resources to help you handle challenging emotions, disturbing symptoms, and distressing memories. The goal is to establish a sense of safety and stability within you. You can think of this as a process of planting the seeds for your growth.

Cards 19-36: Transformation — Cultivating the Fertile Ground of Resilience

Just like in a garden, the new sprouts of your growth require careful tending. The second section guides you to develop self-acceptance and self-compassion, which will assist you as you enter into your hero or heroine’s journey. You can learn to courageously turn toward your pain at a pace that feels supportive for your growth. As you release the pain of the past, you cultivate the fertile ground of resilience.

Cards 37-54: Awakening — Blooming Into Post-Traumatic Growth

In the third stage of trauma recovery, you recognize that you are stronger than you realized. You have entered the phase of post-traumatic growth. You understand that you are here to create a meaningful life in alignment with your values and strengths. It is time to discover who you really are and were always meant to be. Integrating the wounds that once may have been a source of shame or confusion allows you to reclaim a sense of dignity. You are now able to walk in the world with the knowledge that you are so much more than your trauma or pain.

How to Use this Deck:

There are several ways to use this deck. You may want to work with the cards in order by starting with card number 1 and moving through the deck sequentially. However, the healing path is circuitous; therefore, you might prefer to explore these cards in a more spontaneous manner. Spread the card deck out in front of you in an arc and see if there is a title or image that you are drawn to. If you like, lay out the cards face down and pick one intuitively. Allow your inner knowing to lead the way. Trust that you will be guided to find a theme that will provide you with the support you need. Once you have chosen your card, pause and notice how you feel as you look at the image. Observe your response to the title. Then, read the description in this guidebook.

You might choose to journal about your relationship to this theme. I suggest placing your card somewhere special such as on an altar or in your journal as an anchor for your transformational journey. The length of time you spend with each card is up to you as you might stay with any given theme for a day, a week, or for many months.

Over time, I hope these cards will become companions that help to build your resilience and encourage you to bloom into your full potential.

As the hero or heroine of your own story, you are here not simply to survive but to become the creator of your life. It is time to discover who you really are and were always meant to be.

For therapists: You can use this card deck with individual clients to support trauma treatment. Invite them to choose a card that reflects their current experience and explore what it means for them. Within group therapy, you can facilitate a healing community by inviting members to choose a card that resonates with their current experience and share with the group what it means for them.