Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

The phase that involves acknowledging and processing past trauma according to Judith Herman’s model is the remembrance and mourning stage. During this stage, survivors begin to confront and work through the traumatic memories that they may have repressed or avoided. This process is crucial as it allows individuals to reflect on their experiences, understand the impact of those events on their lives, and begin to express and process their feelings surrounding the trauma. Acknowledging the trauma is a vital step towards healing, as it helps individuals develop a narrative of what happened and integrate these memories into their sense of self. The act of mourning is also significant because it involves recognizing the loss and the pain caused by the trauma, which is essential for emotional healing and moving towards recovery. This phase empowers individuals to gain insight and promotes the emotional release necessary for further recovery stages.