| This study aims to add to the limited amount of data regarding the posttraumatic growth clinicians---specifically, clinical and forensic psychologists---experience. In addition, the study investigated why these clinicians chose their particular sub-field of psychology, and the impact the experience of trauma has on clients within the therapeutic context. Fifty-four Psychologists took the Life Event Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5) and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) on Qualtrics(c); fifty-two of whom met criteria for inclusion in the study. The data included twenty-eight clinical psychologists and twenty-four forensic psychologists. An independent variable t-test was conducted on the summed scores from the PTGI for clinical and forensic psychologists. Clinical psychologists displayed a higher rate of posttraumatic growth as determined by the PTGI (p = .027). Themes gained from participants' answers indicated clinical psychologists endorsed the desire to help others and the experience of trauma as the determining factors for entering the field, while forensic psychologists indicated interest in the field and justice as causes for their career choice. Seventy percent of the participants indicated the belief that the experience of trauma positively impacted their work with clients. |
