Focusing on Competencies instead

of Deficits for trauma clients

Why would any healer choose to focus on human weakness and pain?
 Hello!
I Dr. Bob Rhoton
You can contact me at
[email protected]
WhatsApp +1‐480‐255‐7221
 A snippet of history
1800’s
• Pierre Janet – (1883) Dissociation, subconscious, psychasthenia.  
Developed effective treatment using hypnosis to narrate and integrate 
memory fragments (not discovered until 1980s).  In 1913, Janet publicly 
charged Freud with plagiarism.
 That people that were in states of fear and anxiety may dissociate (Dys‐
intgrate) a fractioning of coherent self, usually to survive or to cope.
 Wrote about a narrowed field of Consciousness (1919) which  is  very similar 
to Kelly’s idea of  what causes salience (relevance).
If we have known for over 100 years that we should 
always go for self‐regulation first as Janet discovered
in his research and records with over 5000 patients.  
Get a person into a calmer body and their symptoms 
begin to reduce!
Why isn’t that the starting point for every service?
1900’s A snippet of history
• George Kelly  ‐‐ Personal Construct and Expectancy Theory (1955)
a. Kelly  said people  are constantly theorizing about and testing their own life 
circumstances and  this deeply influences how  they approach the world and 
what is relevant. 
b. That prior experiences influence expectancy, and expectancy influences what 
we attend to in each situation (salience).  This  process increases safety, 
predictability and control.
• Joseph Wolpe – Reciprocal Inhibition (1958)
a. When in a relaxed body, one does not experience anxiety, anger or fear.
b. Wolpe’s therapeutic procedure, systematic desensitization. Reciprocal 
Inhibition based on having clients get into a relaxed body and then perform 
acts that were antagonistic to anxiety in their daily lives”
It has been demonstrated repeatedly that we get 
more of what we focus on, and that focusing on 
something raises its salience 
Why  would we focus on human weakness and 
misery? 
Wholpe’s ideas are the foundation of most effective 
trauma treatment.  
Why is emotionality, and a focus on suffering and 
misery being used instead of getting people into a 
relaxed body first, and then focusing them on 
wellbeing?
1900’s A snippet of history
• Herbert Benson – Relaxation Response (1968)
a. The Relaxation Response a state of deep rest that can be induced through 
various techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and progressive 
muscle relaxation and that as we increase relaxation in the psychiatric 
symptoms reduce.
b. Mind‐Body Connection: Benson's work highlighted the profound connection 
between the mind and body.
c. The Role of Placebo , Benson found that beliefs, expectations, and the 
therapeutic context can significantly influence a patient's response to 
treatment
If psychiatric symptoms improve when a person is able 
to self‐regulate.  Expectancy can set the stage for 
growth by helping someone focus on expecting growth 
and improvement.
Why are we still focused on problems and symptoms 
in treating trauma?
 1900’s A snippet of history
• Onno van der Hart – Abreaction Re‐evaluated (1992 ‐ )
a. High risk of re‐traumatization,  particularly if the client  is not self‐regulating
b. Inaccurate  memories, traumatized often distort, or delete significant  aspects 
of memory
c. The evidence of long‐term positive effects are very poor  
• Judith Herman (1995) Triphasic model of treatment
a. Safety and Stabilization: This initial phase focuses on creating 
a safe therapeutic environment and relationship where the  Catharsis
individual feels secure. 
b. Remembrance and Mourning: In this phase, the focus shifts to 
the exploration and processing of traumatic memories.
c. Reconnection and Integration: The final phase aims to help the 
individual rebuild their life
What I am suggesting is that we focus 
entirely to much on the problems and 
pain, and not enough on assets and 
competency!
 General types of Therapy

Neocortex- Emotion
centric Salutogenic
and
models Phasic
Abreaction

Cognitive models “Feeling” models Competency based

Asset-focused
 • Assume that the client is well‐regulated 
Attributes of enough to engage in learning, goal setting, 
the Neo- taking intentional effort even in the face of 
distress and discomfort.
Cortex-centric
• Assume the client is able to stay in the neo‐
Treatment cortex (executive functioning system) while in 
session, and while they are out in the world.
• That therapy can be manualized, with 
handouts similar to attending a class and 
being held accountable for homework. Which 
de‐emphasizes relationship and elevates 
efficiency.

13
‘Evidence‐based therapy’ has become a marketing buzzword. 
The term ‘evidence based’ comes from medicine….But [it] has come to 
mean something very different for psychotherapy. 
It has been appropriated to promote a specific ideology and agenda. It is 
now used as a code word for manualized therapy – most often brief, one‐
size‐fits‐all forms of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). ‘Manualized’ means 
the therapy is conducted by following an instruction manual’.
Manualized Treatment is often problematic
• Manualized treatment tends to focus on a deliverable protocol. 
• Trauma Therapy effectiveness  relies on relational connection with the 
therapist.  
• The greater the degree of trauma the greater the need for therapeutic 
attachment.  
• Manualized approaches tend to de‐emphasize relationship
• Manualized approaches make more sense for agencies and mental 
health companies, because they can be delivered by inexperienced  
and para‐professionals
Manualized Treatment is often problematic
• These approaches tend to be learning based or emotion based.   
• Without considering that traumatized people often are stuck in the 
intense emotional arousal and because of that they cannot easily 
access clear thinking and cognitive learning effectively. 
• Manualized treatment can put a demand load on  a cognitively 
compromised client
• Emotion focused manualized treatment runs a high risk of pushing
into even greater dysregulation.
• Inexperienced or paraprofessionals  often get focused on the 
deliverable process and are often poorly attuned to the trauma client.
The drive for efficiency is the place 
where therapeutic relationships go 
to die!

Systems drive efficiency to  allow 
them to hire people at lower skill 
sets or training and often hide their 
economic decision behind the 
facade of an evidence‐based model
Salutogenic Approach
An Asset-Focused approach to well-being
Salutogenic Concepts
• Health is a continuum, not a dichotomy between sick and healthy.
• Treatment should emphasize helping people create transformation by 
moving toward health, functionality and wellbeing.
• Listen to a person’s story with an eye for their competency and 
capacity rather than their brokenness, disease, or misery
• Focus on a process of incremental movement toward better health 
and wellbeing. Supporting the client’s incremental, aligned, and 
sequential progress toward wellbeing, functionality and health. 
• Stress is ubiquitous, salutogenesis opens up the possibility for 
the client going through transformation to use stress 
management as a rehabilitative factor. 
• People have capacity to actively adapt. Our work is about 
creating positive futures or transformation. We accentuate and 
heighten the concentration and significance of active adaptation 
as the ideal.
• We embrace the salutogenic orientation which focuses 
attention on a person’s history of movement through their 
trauma, REDEFINING the actions taken as indicative of 
competency and capacity rather than symptoms of disease. 
Salutogenic Asset‐focused approach
 Self‐regulation. 
 Capacity building. 
 Meeting primary social/emotional needs. 
 Increasing the clients voice and choice. 
 Create a long‐term positive expectation (HOPE).
 Strengthening interpersonal resources.
 Strengthening personal resilience to stressors.
 Psychopathology or Salutogenic?
Pathology Salutogenic
• Disease‐centric • Thriving
• Paternalistic (power and control from the top  • Self‐efficacy
down)  The ego of the professional often a   • Hardiness
hurdle • Locus of control
• Curative (fixing a problem) • Gratitude
• Fixing discrete “broken” parts • Connectedness/Attachment
• Authority figures, professionals possess a  • Empowerment
sense of entitlement • Learned optimism
• Lower levels of collaboration and  • Coping skills
transparency about process or expectation • Flourishing /Resilience
• Absence of pain is equal to good health
 The attributes of “coherence” in Salutogenics
(what you focus on instead of deficits)

• Structure in life. • Challenge's worth investing time 
• Predictability in life. and effort in.
• Social support. • Health (not) illness orientated.
• Coping strategies. • Future orientation.
• Life meaning. • Past orientation is primarily to 
• Responsibility. find growth strategies
• Comprehension of inner  and  • Emotional connection.
outer world
• Expression of confidence (HOPE)

Arizona Trauma institute www.aztrauma.org
What is Salutogenic Coherence?
 Comprehensibility
refers to an individual's perception and understanding of the world and their 
ability to make sense of it. It involves their capacity to perceive events, 
circumstances, and experiences as ordered, structured, and predictable. It 
relates to how individuals perceive and interpret their environment, which can 
influence their ability to cope with stress and maintain a sense of well‐being.

Providing individuals with a framework for interpreting and 
managing stress,  promoting a greater sense of control and 
confidence in their ability to cope with challenges.
 Manageability
is closely related to a person's sense of control and mastery over their 
environment. A strong sense of manageability contributes to a person's ability 
to mobilize resources, adapt to stressors, and maintain a sense of coherence in 
the face of adversity. It involves having the skills, knowledge, and support 
necessary to navigate and respond to life's circumstances in a meaningful way..

When individuals perceive their lives as manageable, they are more likely to 
engage in proactive problem‐solving, seek social support, and utilize available 
resources to cope with stressors. 
 Meaningfulness
refers to experiencing a sense of meaningfulness involves understanding and 
making sense of one's life and the world around them. It entails perceiving life 
events, actions, and relationships as meaningful, purposeful, and 
interconnected. When individuals find meaning in their lives, they are more 
likely to feel motivated, engaged, and satisfied.

finding meaning often involves making connections between different aspects 
of life. It includes recognizing the interdependence between oneself and others, 
the environment, and society. 
Attributes of a Salutogenic Trauma Approach
1. Structure in life.  
Routine and predictability are necessary to move forward 
Chaos and instability interfere with goals and movement forward.
2. Social support.
 Secure or strongly attached  in health relationships (intimate and 
friendship based)
 Knowing how to access the social support at need
 Actually, acting to access the social support when needed
3. Coping strategies.
 Strategies to manage sensory and somatic overwhelm
 Grit factor, the ability to endure distress to obtain an outcome
 Life meaning.
Attributes of a Salutogenic Trauma Approach
4. Responsibility.
 The client must be able to regulate and cope adequately  first to be 
accountable to self and others
 Responsibility is a cumulative  character skill, that is more about 
movement toward than obtaining an end goal.  (A 1% CHANGE IS STILL 
POSITIVE MOVEMENT)
5.  Expression of confidence (HOPE)
By continually focus on assets and resources possessed by the client hope 
and an expectancy of being able to cope with future difficulties emerges.
Attributes of a Salutogenic Trauma Approach
6. Challenges worth investing time and effort in. 
 Efforts have to make sense to the client (from their truth and  understanding)
 The intervention must seem worth the effort and attentional focus that are 
necessary to obtain the desired end
7. Health (not) illness orientated.
8. Future orientation.
 Help them see themselves with less of the problem and more of the skills 
and knowledge to deal with negative life experiences
9. Comprehension of inner and outer world
 Strive for alignment between the inner and outer world of the client
 Everything needs to feel pragmatic and practical to the client (concrete over 
abstract)
Attributes of a Salutogenic Trauma Approach
10.Change that is increased successively and instrumentally. 
 The client’s changed view of themselves and their competency or 
capacity.
 Improved incremental self‐management that is structured, systematic, 
and progressive.
11.Increased incremental motivation based on the client’s feedback 
as a tool for strengthening the therapy’s effectiveness.
 The therapist’s genuine belief that the client can move through the 
process, one that’s been designed uniquely for them. 
 Support of the client to find their own pacing through the improvement 
process that prepares for setbacks, limitations, and negative experiences 
relating to past, present, future, and other people as they move through 
the process
 The Medical/Psychiatric model of mental
health looks for a diagnosis to pinpoint the
causal agent and reduce the impact to
restore the status quo (back to when life
was good or better)

Traditional mental health looks at

The Salutogenic approach focuses on 
restoring people to the status quo,
but people with chronic and complex creating wellness, it does not focus on the 
trauma have never had a good or status quo, but more on increasing 
better life experience to get back to! capacity and resilience.
 We must look at each person

1 knowing that they are a complex

being. We must attune to them
and genuinely be curious
• Not judgmental
• Not labeling
• Not focused on flaws and
human weakness
 Help clients move past causality

2 or why guiding them to focus

moving forward and actions
associated with moving forward.
3
We do not focus  on acuity, 
rather on what can be done to 
move through or forward.
 Realize that most symptoms are

4 really biologically correct

responses to dysregulation.
 We must look at each person

1 knowing that they are a complex

being. We must attune to them
and genuinely be curious
 THANKS!
[email protected]
Arizona Trauma Ins�tute
Call to Action
Step into a world where wellness takes center stage and discover the remarkable journey of the salutogenic
approach. Get ready to be cap�vated as we unravel the secrets to unlocking your full poten�al and
embracing a life brimming with vitality. To be asset-focused rather than problem-focused is to shi� our
perspec�ve and aten�on towards the competency, resources, and posi�ve atributes that exist within
ourselves or a par�cular situa�on, rather than solely dwelling on the challenges and shortcomings.

Drawing from the fountain of knowledge, the salutogenic approach illuminates the art of wellness,
emphasizing the inherent power within each and every one of us. Forget the ordinary and embark on an
extraordinary adventure where you hold the key to a healthier, more fulfilling existence. Imagine looking at a
pain�ng and fixa�ng only on the smudges and imperfec�ons. Problem-focused thinking would zoom in on
those flaws, overshadowing the overall beauty and poten�al of the artwork. On the other hand, an asset-
focused approach would recognize and celebrate the vibrant colors, the intricate brushwork, and the ar�st's
unique vision.

Through a blend of scien�fic exper�se and a sprinkle of magic, skill and prac�ce you can conjure with those
you serve a cap�va�ng tale of self-discovery. Imagine peeling back the layers of health, unraveling the
intricacies of mind, body, and spirit, and revealing the extraordinary poten�al lying dormant within. In life,
we o�en encounter obstacles, setbacks, and difficul�es. Problem-focused thinking tends to keep us stuck in a
cycle of analysis, dwelling on the nega�ves, and searching for faults. There is this an almost insurmountable
barrier of causality (WHY) that many get trapped behind. It can drain our energy, dampen our mo�va�on,
and hinder our progress.

Like a master storyteller, be one that introduces your clients and those you service to a world where
proac�ve measures take center stage. Bid farewell to the tradi�onal, reac�ve approach and embrace a
philosophy that empowers the cul�va�on of well-being from within. It's �me to help those you serve rewrite
the script and seize control of their narra�ve.

The salutogenic approach, with its innova�ve techniques and principles, invites you to become the architect
of your own wellness masterpiece. By focusing on the factors that promote health and resilience, you'll tap
into the wellspring of your own poten�al, transforming challenges into opportuni�es for growth. When we
adopt an asset-focused mindset, we consciously direct our aten�on towards competencies, abili�es, and
resources. It's like shining a spotlight on inherent talents, posi�ve quali�es, and the tools at our disposal. By
doing so, a wealth of possibili�es and untapped poten�al are unlocked.

Being asset-focused allows us to approach challenges with a fresh perspec�ve. Instead of being consumed by
problems, we seek out crea�ve solu�ons, leverage competencies, capacity, strengths, and tap into our
exis�ng resources. It empowers one to draw upon our resilience, crea�vity, and inner reserves to navigate
obstacles and thrive in the face of adversity.

Moreover, an asset-focused approach extends beyond the individual level. It can be applied to teams,
organiza�ons, and communi�es. By iden�fying and nurturing the strengths and assets of each member or
component, collec�ve progress and success become more atainable.
So, to be asset-focused means to cul�vate a mindset that embraces competency, capacity, resources,
strengths, solu�ons, and possibili�es. It's about shi�ing our aten�on towards what is working, what is
posi�ve, and what can propel us forward. By doing so, we unlock a world of opportuni�es and pave the way
for growth, resilience, and a more empowering approach to life's challenges.

Sense of Coherence
From a salutogenic viewpoint, the sense of coherence (SOC) is a concept developed by Aaron Antonovsky, an
Israeli American sociologist and psychologist. It is a key element in his theory of salutogenesis, which focuses
on understanding the factors that contribute to human health and well-being.

The sense of coherence refers to an individual's percep�on and evalua�on of life situa�ons. It is a global
orienta�on that reflects the extent to which a person views their life as comprehensible, manageable, and
meaningful. Antonovsky proposed that individuals with a strong sense of coherence are more likely to
perceive life stressors as predictable, controllable, and meaningful, which in turn contributes to beter health
outcomes.

The three components of the sense of coherence are:

1. Comprehensibility: It refers to the belief that one's internal and external environments are
structured, predictable, and understandable. Individuals with a high level of comprehensibility can
make sense of the events happening in their lives and have a coherent understanding of their world.
2. Manageability: It refers to the belief that one has the internal and external resources necessary to
cope with the demands of life. People with a high level of manageability feel that they have the skills,
support systems, and strategies to handle stressors effec�vely.
3. Meaningfulness: It refers to the belief that life has a sense of purpose, significance, and coherence.
Individuals with a high level of meaningfulness find value and purpose in their life experiences, and
they perceive their ac�ons as meaningful contribu�ons to their own well-being and the world around
them.

According to Antonovsky, a strong sense of coherence promotes resilience and adap�ve coping strategies,
allowing individuals to beter manage stressful situa�ons and maintain or improve their health. It is
important to note that the sense of coherence is not solely determined by individual characteris�cs, but it is
also influenced by social, cultural, and environmental factors.

Overall, from a salutogenic viewpoint, the sense of coherence is seen as a crucial factor in promo�ng health
and well-being by providing individuals with a posi�ve orienta�on towards life's challenges and facilita�ng
adap�ve responses to stressors.

Comprehensibility
Salutogenic comprehensibility refers to one of the three components of the sense of coherence (SOC) in the
salutogenic theory developed by Aaron Antonovsky. It reflects an individual's percep�on and belief that their
internal and external environments are structured, predictable, and understandable.

Comprehensibility encompasses the ability to make sense of and understand the world around us. It involves
perceiving events, situa�ons, and circumstances as meaningful and coherent. When individuals have a high
level of salutogenic comprehensibility, they believe that their life experiences and the world in general are
organized and can be comprehended.
Here are some key points to understand about salutogenic comprehensibility:

1. Structured and Predictable Environment: Individuals with a strong sense of salutogenic

comprehensibility perceive their environment as having a certain order and predictability. They
believe that events and situa�ons follow some logical paterns and can be understood.
2. Cogni�ve Understanding: Salutogenic comprehensibility involves the cogni�ve aspect of
understanding. It is about being able to grasp and interpret informa�on, iden�fy cause-and-effect
rela�onships, and make sense of the circumstances one encounters.
3. Sense-Making: It is the process through which individuals ac�vely construct meaning from their
experiences. Salutogenic comprehensibility involves the ability to find meaning and coherence in life
events, even in challenging or stressful situa�ons.
4. Reduced Ambiguity and Confusion: Individuals with a high level of salutogenic comprehensibility
experience less ambiguity and confusion. They are beter equipped to perceive and interpret events,
which reduces uncertainty and enhances their ability to respond effec�vely.
5. Cogni�ve Framework: Salutogenic comprehensibility provides individuals with a cogni�ve framework
to organize their experiences, which helps them navigate and cope with stressors more effec�vely.
6. Ac�ve Engagement: It is important to note that salutogenic comprehensibility is an ac�ve process.
Individuals ac�vely seek informa�on, analyze it, and construct meaning from their experiences. It
involves a sense of curiosity, explora�on, and a willingness to engage with one's environment.
7. Influence on Health and Well-being: According to Antonovsky, a high level of salutogenic
comprehensibility contributes to beter health outcomes and overall well-being. When individuals
perceive their life experiences as understandable and meaningful, they are beter equipped to cope
with stress, maintain a sense of control, and promote their own health.

In summary, salutogenic comprehensibility is about perceiving the world as structured, predictable, and
understandable. It involves the cogni�ve aspect of understanding, finding meaning in life events, and ac�vely
engaging with one's environment. A strong sense of salutogenic comprehensibility is associated with beter
health outcomes and plays a crucial role in promo�ng well-being.

Manageability
Salutogenic manageability is another component of the sense of coherence (SOC) in the salutogenic theory
developed by Aaron Antonovsky. It refers to an individual's percep�on and belief that they have the internal
and external resources necessary to cope with the demands and challenges of life effec�vely.

Here are some key points to understand about salutogenic manageability:

1. Coping Resources: Salutogenic manageability is closely �ed to the availability of coping resources.
Coping resources can be internal, such as personal strengths, skills, and coping strategies, or external,
such as social support, access to informa�on, and material resources. Individuals with a high level of
salutogenic manageability believe they possess these resources or have the ability to access them
when needed.
2. Adap�ve Coping: Salutogenic manageability involves the belief that one has the capacity to handle
and navigate stressful situa�ons and challenges. It is about perceiving oneself as capable of using
appropriate coping strategies to effec�vely manage stressors and maintain well-being.
 3. Problem-Solving Orienta�on: Individuals with a strong sense of salutogenic manageability tend to
have a problem-solving orienta�on. They approach difficul�es with a belief that they can find
solu�ons, take necessary ac�ons, and overcome obstacles effec�vely.
4. Self-Efficacy: Salutogenic manageability is associated with a sense of self-efficacy, which refers to an
individual's belief in their own ability to accomplish tasks and influence outcomes. Individuals with a
high level of salutogenic manageability have confidence in their abili�es to cope with challenges and
achieve desired outcomes.
5. External Resources: In addi�on to internal coping resources, salutogenic manageability recognizes the
importance of external resources. These can include social support networks, access to healthcare
services, educa�onal opportuni�es, and other suppor�ve systems that contribute to an individual's
ability to manage stressors effec�vely.
6. Ac�ve Engagement: Salutogenic manageability emphasizes ac�ve engagement and proac�ve
behavior in managing life's challenges. It involves taking ini�a�ve, seeking help or support when
needed, and u�lizing available resources to enhance one's ability to cope.
7. Empowerment: Salutogenic manageability promotes a sense of empowerment and control over one's
life. Individuals with a high level of manageability believe they have control over their circumstances,
choices, and ac�ons, which contributes to a greater sense of well-being.
8. Influence on Health and Well-being: Antonovsky posits that individuals with a strong sense of
salutogenic manageability are more likely to effec�vely manage stressors, engage in adap�ve coping
behaviors, and promote their own health and well-being.

In summary, salutogenic manageability refers to an individual's percep�on of having the necessary internal
and external resources to cope with life's challenges. It involves adap�ve coping, problem-solving
orienta�on, self-efficacy, ac�ve engagement, and the u�liza�on of available resources. A strong sense of
salutogenic manageability contributes to beter health outcomes and fosters a greater sense of
empowerment and control over one's life.

Meaningfulness
Salutogenic meaningfulness is one of the components of the sense of coherence (SOC) in the salutogenic
theory developed by Aaron Antonovsky. It refers to an individual's percep�on and belief that life has a sense
of purpose, significance, and coherence.

Here are some key points to understand about salutogenic meaningfulness:

1. Sense of Purpose: Salutogenic meaningfulness involves perceiving one's life as having a purpose or
direc�on. It is about finding meaning in one's ac�ons, experiences, and overall existence. Individuals
with a high level of salutogenic meaningfulness believe that their ac�ons contribute to their own
well-being and the well-being of others.
2. Significance and Values: Salutogenic meaningfulness relates to the importance and value individuals
assign to their beliefs, principles, and goals. It involves iden�fying and aligning with values that
resonate with one's own sense of self and contribute to a sense of fulfillment and sa�sfac�on.
3. Coherence and Integra�on: Salutogenic meaningfulness is connected to perceiving life events and
experiences as coherent and integrated. It involves recognizing paterns, connec�ons, and
rela�onships between various aspects of life, which leads to a sense of order and understanding.
4. Iden�ty and Iden�ty Development: Salutogenic meaningfulness is intertwined with an individual's
sense of iden�ty. It involves understanding and apprecia�ng one's own uniqueness, values, and
strengths, and aligning them with a broader sense of purpose and meaning in life.
 5. Beliefs and Worldview: Salutogenic meaningfulness encompasses an individual's beliefs, worldview,
and philosophical orienta�on. It includes the belief that there is meaning in life beyond immediate
circumstances, and that events and experiences can be interpreted in a way that contributes to
personal growth and well-being.
6. Sense-Making and Narra�ve: Salutogenic meaningfulness involves the process of sense-making and
crea�ng a narra�ve of one's life. It is about construc�ng a story that gives coherence, significance,
and purpose to one's experiences and ac�ons.
7. Connec�on to Others and Community: Salutogenic meaningfulness acknowledges the importance of
social connec�ons and a sense of belonging. It involves finding meaning in rela�onships, contribu�ng
to the well-being of others, and par�cipa�ng in a broader community or social context.
8. Influence on Health and Well-being: Antonovsky suggests that individuals with a strong sense of
salutogenic meaningfulness are more likely to experience beter health outcomes and overall well-
being. Finding purpose and meaning in life contributes to a sense of fulfillment, mo�va�on, and
resilience in the face of challenges.

In summary, salutogenic meaningfulness refers to perceiving life as having purpose, significance, and
coherence. It involves finding meaning in one's ac�ons, values, rela�onships, and overall existence. A strong
sense of salutogenic meaningfulness contributes to beter health outcomes, personal growth, and a sense of
connec�on to oneself, others, and the world.

Why should a trauma therapist operate from a Salutogenic viewpoint?

Trauma therapists can benefit from prac�cing from a salutogenic approach for several reasons:

1. Focus on Strengths and Resources: The salutogenic approach emphasizes iden�fying and mobilizing an
individual's strengths and resources to promote healing and growth. By shi�ing the focus from pathology to
resilience, trauma therapists can help clients recognize their exis�ng coping skills, support networks, and
inner strengths. This approach fosters a sense of empowerment and promotes the belief that healing is
possible.

2. Empowerment and Collabora�on: A salutogenic approach encourages a collabora�ve therapeu�c

rela�onship where clients are ac�vely involved in their healing process. Trauma therapists prac�cing from
this perspec�ve work with clients as partners, respec�ng their autonomy and promo�ng their sense of
agency. This collabora�ve approach empowers clients to take an ac�ve role in their own recovery.

3. Meaning-Making and Post-Trauma�c Growth: Trauma�c experiences can disrupt an individual's sense of
meaning and coherence. The salutogenic approach emphasizes helping clients reconstruct and find meaning
in their experiences, promo�ng post-trauma�c growth. By facilita�ng the explora�on of personal values,
purpose, and the development of a new narra�ve, trauma therapists can support clients in finding meaning
and integra�ng their trauma�c experiences into a larger, meaningful life context.

4. Resilience and Coping: Trauma therapists prac�cing from a salutogenic approach focus on enhancing
clients' resilience and adap�ve coping skills. Rather than solely focusing on symptom reduc�on, this
approach emphasizes building a client's capacity to cope with the impact of trauma. By promo�ng effec�ve
coping strategies and resilience-building techniques, trauma therapists can support clients in naviga�ng the
challenges associated with their trauma�c experiences.
5. Holis�c Perspec�ve: The salutogenic approach recognizes the interconnectedness of various aspects of an
individual's life, including physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Trauma therapists
prac�cing from this perspec�ve consider the whole person and the broader context in which they live. This
holis�c understanding enables therapists to address the mul�faceted needs of clients and create
comprehensive treatment plans that encompass various dimensions of their well-being.

6. Client-Centered and Culturally Sensi�ve: The salutogenic approach values the uniqueness of each
individual and recognizes the influence of cultural, social, and contextual factors on well-being. Trauma
therapists prac�cing from this approach priori�ze cultural sensi�vity, respect diversity, and tailor their
interven�ons to align with the individual's values, beliefs, and cultural background. This client-centered
approach fosters a safe and inclusive therapeu�c environment.

By adop�ng a salutogenic approach, trauma therapists can help clients move beyond the focus on pathology
and deficits, empowering them to draw upon their strengths, find meaning, and cul�vate resilience in the
face of trauma. This approach promotes a posi�ve orienta�on towards healing and growth, ul�mately
suppor�ng clients in their journey towards post-trauma�c recovery and well-being.