ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the key idea of expert companionship to describe an approach to facilitate posttraumatic growth (PTG). We first explain the basic principles of expert companionship, and then describe the roles by highlighting the importance of respect for survivors, being the humble learner, and fashioning a narrative together, as well as encouraging an appreciation for the paradoxical in the trauma experience. We then discuss the potential problems in promoting PTG in clinical work and introducing PTG soon after a traumatic experience. The chapter includes a case example and ends with various examples of language and communication that expert companions could use to facilitate PTG.
