Offense-related trauma refers to a trauma reaction following the perpetration of a violent offense. This research explores the lived experience of offense-related trauma, in two forensic patients. The meaning and understanding these individuals make of their own coping strategies, triggers, and treatment, and how this contributes to their behavior, was explored using a semi-structured interview and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Two super-ordinate themes emerged from the data: “Journey to Forgiveness” and “Living with the Whole Me.” These themes and their subthemes highlight the nuances of offense-related trauma and raise the question of how processes such as complicated grief and associated shame can impact on recovery and rehabilitation. The implications of the findings for professionals providing treatment in forensic settings are considered.
Date
December 1, 2022
Creator(s)
Grace Rew, Lauren Clark, Gemma Rogers
Topics
Abuse/Neglect, PTSD/C-PTSD
Client Population
Offenders/Perpetrators
Extent
11 pages
Publisher
Springer Publishing Company
Rights
Copyright © 2022 EMDR International Association
APA Citation
Rew, G., Clark, L., & Rogers, G. (2022). Making Sense of Offense-Related Trauma: Exploring Two Patients’ Lived Experience. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 16(4), 228–238. https://doi.org/10.1891/EMDR-2022-0004
Series
16
Installment
4
Audience
EMDR Therapists
Language
English
Content Type
Peer-Reviewed
Original Source
Journal of EMDR Practice and Research
Access Type
Open Access