The Compassionate-Mind Guide to Recovering from Trauma and PTSD: Using Compassion-Focused Therapy to Overcome Flashbacks, Shame, Guilt, and Fear

Compassionate-mind Guides

by Deborah A. Lee, Sophie James

Although many people who have survived trauma, abuse, and violent situations understand on a logical level that the traumatic events they experienced were not their fault, shame may still underlie their feelings and fuel post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related psychological difficulties. For example, women who are victims of domestic abuse are often so paralyzed with the stigma of shame associated with their abuse, they don’t seek help. The Compassionate-Mind Guide to Recovering from Trauma and PTSD helps readers reduce the sense of threat they constantly feel and develop a fuller understanding of their reactions to trauma by cultivating compassion for themselves and others. The practical exercises based in compassion-focused therapy (CFT) that are offered in this book help readers gradually confront and overcome trauma-related behaviors. This approach invites readers who have undergone a traumatic experience to develop compassion for themselves and others, a sense of safety, and the ability to self-soothe when difficult memories or emotions arise. Written by an international expert on PTSD treatment, this book will prove to be an essential resource for therapists specializing in the treatment of trauma and anyone in the process of healing from a traumatic experience.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Mental Health

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Renee · Rating 1 out of 5]

The self-help, think-your-way-through serious trauma approach presented in this book not only undercuts the gravity of trauma for survivors, but as a tome from alleged mental health practitioners, it's downright irresponsible. Full of watered-down information based on actual psychological information, the authors package what would be good information in a condescending and simplified happy-go-lucky self-help tone, which does nothing to help sufferers. Rather, it treats a serious mental health issue as childish by talking down to readers and being patronizingly simplistic and repetitive, negating the hard work recovering from trauma actually takes. You're just a hop, skip and a compassionate thought away from a cure! That's all it takes! Any book on trauma that suggests the book itself, rather than professional help (other than in passing, afterthought mentions), is all survivors need, demonstrates such poor judgement, it can't be taken seriously. Don't bother with this horrifying book on trauma; read books by authors who really know what they're doing, such as "The Courage To Heal," "The Body Keeps The Score," or "Trauma and Recovery."

[Diane Dreher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye-opening guide to the complex symptoms of trauma--from experiencing early childhood neglect to traumatic violence in adult life--and how we can begin healing by learning to express compassion for ourselves. Excellent insights, examples, and practices.

[L.M. Elm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted a more in-depth look into PTSD than this book. More of a slant of how to overcome PTSD if you think you're a sufferer.

[Julia V · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 - will update with review

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent accessible guide- I will say I have found it more beneficial as a therapist however, I can imagine it being hard to follow through yourself as a patient.

[Dr. Shailla Vaidya the Yoga MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

One I often recommend - a good explanation of the neurobiology of PTSD and Trauma and how compassion fro the self can help heal.