Date

9-17-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Rachel Piferi

Keywords

Childhood trauma, life purpose, phenomenology, meaning-making, healing

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Childhood trauma often disrupts an individual’s sense of meaning, identity, and direction, leaving lasting effects that extend beyond psychological symptoms into how life’s purpose is understood and lived. While existing research has examined trauma, coping, and meaning in life, less is known about how survivors themselves experience and construct life purpose following traumatic experiences. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how Christian adult survivors of childhood trauma describe their lived experiences of trauma and healing, and the development of life purpose in adulthood. Semistructured interviews were conducted with seven Christian adults who self-identified as having experienced childhood trauma and healing and an emerging sense of life purpose after the trauma. Interviews were recorded, transcribed through Otter.ai, and manually reviewed for accuracy. Participants were invited to share their lived experiences and current life narratives, including how they understood and expressed life purpose, as well as their journeys from survival toward purposeful living. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis consistent with phenomenological methodology and revealed six themes that reflected the shared essence of participants’ experiences: (a) Profound and Pervasive Wounding, (b) Survival Without Safety: Coping in the Absence of Protection, (c) Healing as an Ongoing Journey, (d) From Brokenness to Becoming: Discovering Purpose, (e) Relationships as Sources of Wounding and Healing, and (f) A Turning Point: Divine Encounter and Surrender. The study findings add to counseling psychology, trauma-informed care, and faith-integrated practice by deepening understanding of life purpose as a central dimension of healing and restoration after childhood trauma.

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