Resiliency and How Survivors of Violence Forge Comebacks

In the recent book, Resiliency: An Integrated Approach to Practice, Policy, and Research (NASW, 2002) edited by Roberta R. Greene, PhD, MSW, author Nancy R. Williams, PhD, MSW assistant professor at the School of Social Work, University of Georgia, Athens, looks at the relationship between surviving violence and the concept of resiliency.

In the last year since the attacks on September 11, Americans have shown incredible resilience to terrorism. Even more important is the resiliency of survivors of the atrocities. According to Williams, social workers focus on people in their environment and in the case of September 11, acknowledge that "there is no right way to respond to violence, but to recognize that survivors draw on their own developed strengths as they cope."

The capacity for survivors to overcome the effects of adversity is shown through the strengths based approach—the keystone of social work practice. Some of those factors include determination to get through the crisis; accepting help from others, including helping professionals; finding meaning in the experience; a spiritual relationship with a higher power; and the ability to learn new skills.

In addition to what Williams says, social worker Mila Tecala, ACSW, DCSW, Director of the Center for Loss and Grief in Washington, DC, says that she has seen many people take advantage of the opportunity to learn from September 11. In the Chinese language, she says, Crisis is spelled in two characters—one meaning danger and the other meaning opportunity. In this case, taking advantage of the internal assets the survivor already has, for example, problem-solving skills, a sense of future, and social competencies, could help that person overcome adversities.

"Many people have been reaching out to neighbors and even strangers. Others have learned that life is fragile, that no day is a given, and therefore have been living life to the fullest," she adds.

Williams says, "Grief is a natural emotional, physical, and cognitive expression in reaction to a loss or trauma. Dealing with grief that comes in the aftermath of violence is crucial—the act of ‘bearing witness’ to another’s pain is as potent as it is natural but can be overlooked when trying to help a survivor move forward."

Social workers have been on the front lines for the last year and remain there to help those affected go through the recovery process as Americans continue to grieve for loss of life and loss of invulnerability and security. Social workers have become personal facilitators and coaches, helping survivors navigate through grief, pain, fear and the disorientation that came with the atrocities on September 11, 2001.

Media outlets interested in interviewing Nancy Williams, PhD, MSW or Mila Tecala, ACSW, DCSW, please contact Lahne Mattas-Curry at media@naswdc.org or call 202-336-8228.