My APA presidential campaign motto was “Let’s Thrive!” and I firmly believe, as both a trauma psychologist and survivor, that we must not make the cessation of distress symptoms the finish line of our efforts. Whether approaching our work as practitioners, researchers, educators, or applied psychologists, we must consider life beyond symptom cessation. As Maya Angelou powerfully stated, “Surviving is necessary, but thriving is elegant.”
The truth is someone can experience a reduction in suicidal thoughts and still have no joy. We can facilitate a healing process or research study that focuses on the elimination of post-traumatic stress symptoms or self-harming behaviors but still be faced with persons who have a limited sense of a positive self, connection, or purpose. Health and healing is more than the absence or minimization of illness. As a field, it is important for us to be committed to enhancing thriving and growth.
I recently attended Division 45’s Research Conference 2023 and, in addition to important scholarship on racism and other forms of oppression, I was heartened to hear about work on benevolent childhood experiences alongside adverse childhood experiences (ACES), as well as work on flourishing beyond surviving. Whether our framework is positive psychology, community psychology, or liberation psychology, we must imagine, as a field, the essential components of optimal living. Our scientific studies show these components may include optimism or hope, positive relationships, a sense of purpose, appreciation and gratitude, and a sense of agency or self-efficacy, among other factors.
While we need to be committed to preventing and eradicating interpersonal trauma, including the trauma of oppression, we must also commit our efforts to promote thriving. What will it mean for individuals, families, communities, nations, and humanity to thrive? Let’s join together to build on the lessons and insights from our field’s effective clinical practices, community-building interventions, and scientific findings to find out.
