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The Process Leading to Help Seeking Following Childhood Trauma

Bibliographic Data

ID4622867
AuthorsSigne Hjelen Stige (0000-0002-6628-4793, Finnmark Hospital Trust, Alta, Norway), Bente Træen (0000-0002-7335-9917, University of Tromsø, Tromso, Norway), Jan H Rosenvinge (0000-0003-3485-9641, University of Tromsø, Tromso, Norway)
Year2013
Volume23
Issue10
Pages1295-1306
Publication date2013-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1049732313503907
PMID23990251
OpenAlexW2167026166
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited31

In this article we explore the process leading to help seeking following childhood trauma among women who were currently in treatment. We interviewed 13 participants from six treatment groups for clients exposed to human-inflicted traumas. Transcripts were analyzed using a hermeneutical-phenomenological approach. Help seeking was initiated after a prolonged period of time (13 to 58 years after first trauma exposure), during which participants relied heavily on a strategy of managing on their own. Self-management contributed to delays in help seeking, but was also an important resource. High levels of distress were reported prior to help seeking, often without help seeking being considered as an option. The participants sought help when encountering situational demands exceeding available resources, resulting in experiences of exhaustion and loss of control. We present a model of the help-seeking process, underlining the importance of respecting and exploring the individual process of seeking help when offering trauma-specific treatment

Distress · Help-seeking · Mental health · Psychotherapist · Situational ethics · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child Abuse and Trauma · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Social Psychology

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Unique citing works6
Citations per year0,75
Citation span2018 - 2026 (9)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 6
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