From Ego Psychology to Strengths, From Victim to Survivor

Abstract

This article recommends that a clinical social worker, especially when he or she is working with a survivor of complex trauma, should therapeutically use the self to build a relationship with the client. If therapeutic outcome occurs, conceptualizing through theory can help explain why and guide future clinical practice. The male clinical social worker under study engaged “Jena” in this way. Jena survived a rape and gang violence. She ultimately reached her goals and achieved significant outcomes in key areas. Strengths-based principles helped the clinical social worker build a relationship with Jena, and ego psychology helped to explain what happened after their work terminated. This therapeutic approach inspired the clinical social worker to undertake research on these 2 theories. A core feature of the theoretical research and the case was resilience.

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