Pollyanna Leadership & Eeyore Friends
Understanding Post-Traumatic Growth Q&A
About the Video
Post-traumatic growth (PTG) describes the phenomenon of positive change that people can experience in the wake of a negative experience or trauma. In this conversation, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz, and Dr. Jennifer Russel discuss two questions submitted by our community about post-traumatic growth and toxic positivity:
(0:26): I have a boss who, at all of our team meetings, keeps asking about the “gifts” or “silver linings” of COVID. I am not feeling that way at all. I am exhausted and frankly traumatized by what I have experienced over the past year. Yet, I am feeling the pressured to participate. What do I do?
(6:57): One my best friends has always been a “half-glass empty” person and I am finding this increasingly challenging. I’m no Pollyanna, but I tend to make lemonade out of lemons. I don’t want to look back and realize that I spent the last few months in fear. What can I do about it?
NOTE. Eeyore is a fictional character from the Winnie-the-Pooh books by A. A. Milne, and he is generally characterized as being pessimistic and gloomy. To be “a Pollyanna” means to be a person who is excessively optimistic with a tendency to find good in everything.
Recorded in July 2021 as part of the Psychological PPE Program.
Additional Resources
About the Presenters
Françoise Mathieu
M. Ed, RP
Françoise Mathieu is an educator, speaker, and trauma-trained therapist. She is the author of The Compassion Fatigue Workbook, founding member of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Consortium, and the Executive Director of TEND.
Diana Tikasz
MSW, RSW
Diana Tikasz has worked in the teaching and health care sector for over 30 years and specializes in trauma-focused work. She is a TEND Associate and Organizational Health Specialist for the Roadmap to Organizational Health program.
Dr. Jennifer Russel
MD, FRCPC(C), MSW
Dr. Jennifer Russel is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. She is the Clinical Director of the Compass Program at BCCH, the first provider support program in Canada, and the Consulting Psychiatrist for the Physician Health Program in BC.
Where to go next?
Understanding Post-Traumatic Growth
Avoiding Blaming and Toxic Positivity
Post-traumatic growth describes the phenomenon of positive change that people can experience in the wake of a negative experience or trauma. In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel explore strategies to foster positive growth within ourselves and our teams.
July 2021
Are You Okay?
Processing the Psychological Impact of the Pandemic
In this opening keynote for CARE4YOU 2022, Françoise Mathieu explores post-traumatic growth, how it has been misunderstood and misused, and offer strategies to process and recalibrate.
June 2022
Good vs. Punitive Messaging
A Conversation About Post-Traumatic Growth with Sarah Stewart
Sarah Stewart is a certified Mental Health First Aid educator and TEND Associate. In this conversation, she shares her lessons learned about post-traumatic growth during difficult times, her perspective on punitive messaging in the workplace, and strategies to cope.
July 2021