Research

Growing Forward Together's (GFT) programs are theory-based and evidence-informed.  

Our programs for survivors take the form of psychoeducation: information + skills + support while learning.  

They share a “theory of change” that is tried-and-true for maltreatment survivors facing challenges and triggers for posttraumatic reactions—whether the challenge is 

  • engaging in trauma-focused therapy, 
  • pregnancy and parenting, or
  • staying on track with life goals as an emerging adult.  

This theory of change reflects the very latest bio-psycho-social understandings of complex trauma.

Target client mechanisms and outcomes diagram
* Hyland P, Shevlin M, Brewin CR. The memory and identity theory of ICD-11 complex posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychological Review. 2023 Jul;130(4):1044.

Studies about Survivor Moms' Companion®

Sperlich M, Seng JS, Rowe H, Cameron H, Harris A, McCracken A, Rauch SA, Bell SA. The Survivor Moms’ Companion: Feasibility, safety, and acceptability of a posttraumatic stress specific psychoeducation program for pregnant survivors of childhood maltreatment and sexual trauma. International Journal of Childbirth. 2011 Jan 1;1(2):122-35.

Seng JS, Sperlich M, Rowe H, Cameron H, Harris A, Rauch SA, Bell SA. The Survivor Moms’ Companion: Open pilot of a posttraumatic stress specific psychoeducation program for pregnant survivors of childhood maltreatment and sexual trauma. International Journal of Childbirth. 2011 Jan 1;1(2):111-21.

Rowe H, Sperlich M, Cameron H, Seng J. A quasi‐experimental outcomes analysis of a psychoeducation intervention for pregnant women with abuse‐related posttraumatic stress. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing. 2014 May 1;43(3):282-93.

Sperlich M, Kabilamany P. The Survivor Moms’ Companion trauma‐specific perinatal psychoeducation intervention in a community outreach program: An open pilot. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. 2022 Sep;67(5):569-79.

If you are unable to access these on Google Scholar or through an institutional library, please email julia.seng@survivormoms.org.

Program Policy Briefs

Survivor Mom's Companion®

Trauma & Society