כמה טוב, אני חסר אונים! שינוי תפיסתי והיווצרות “חוסר אונים מתמיר" אצל נפגעי PTSD שמשתתפים בטיפול קבוצתי

Powerlessness is often seen as harmful and dangerous. However, some spiritual, philosophical, and therapeutic concepts regard the complete acceptance of powerlessness as an essential step to recovery. This study describes a unique aspect of the experience of participants in a therapeutic group recovering from PTSD - the corresponding perceptual change that the participants go through regarding powerlessness and their relationship with the group. The 24 participants in the study, all diagnosed with PTSD, were interviewed in a semi-structured open-ended interview. Two parallel processes were found and described: a perceptual change from negative to positive regarding the existential experience of powerlessness and, simultaneously, a movement from the experience of loneliness and alienation towards one of connection and support from group members. The interview analysis revealed four themes in the transition process: trauma survivors participating in a group go through loneliness and powerlessness, getting closer to the group, accepting powerlessness and the connection to the group, and utilizing transformative powerlessness. The study demonstrates the positive use of the new perception of powerlessness as a devastating experience towards “transformative powerlessness” as a recovery tool and the therapy-group׳s role in the process.