Understanding and Healing Emotional Trauma: Conversations with pioneering clinicians and researchers

by Daniela F. Sieff

Understanding and Healing Emotional Trauma is an interdisciplinary book which explores our current understanding of the forces involved in both the creation and healing of emotional trauma. Through engaging conversations with pioneering clinicians and researchers, Daniela F. Sieff offers accessible yet substantial answers to questions such What is emotional trauma? What are the causes? What are its consequences? What does it mean to heal emotional trauma? and How can healing be achieved? These questions are addressed through three interrelated psychotherapy, neurobiology and evolution. Psychotherapeutic perspectives take us inside the world of the unconscious mind and body to illuminate how emotional trauma distorts our relationships with ourselves and with other people ( Donald Kalsched, Bruce Lloyd, Tina Stromsted, Marion Woodman ). Neurobiological perspectives explore how trauma impacts the systems that mediate our emotional lives and well-being ( Ellert Nijenhuis, Allan Schore, Daniel Siegel ). And e volutionary perspectives contextualise emotional trauma in terms of the legacy we have inherited from our distant ancestors ( James Chisholm, Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, Randolph Nesse). Transforming lives affected by emotional trauma is possible, but it can be a difficult process. The insights shared in these lively and informative conversations can support and facilitate that process.This book will therefore be a valuable resource for psychotherapists, psychologists, counsellors and other mental health professionals in practice and training, and also for members of the general public who are endeavouring to find ways through their own emotional trauma. In addition, because emotional trauma often has its roots in childhood, this book will also be of interest and value to parents, teachers and anyone concerned with the care of children.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

262 pages, Hardcover

First published November 27, 2014

Reviews

[Rick Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

0.Why read this work?

Imagine - you hear a loved one dying suddenly?

-Your own Children dying
-Your wife/husband suddenly passes away
-Nobody left out in your own family

(or) Imagine War torn places, refugees.

How would you feel?

Certainly, you might say, not good.

Perhaps, you could say, you'd feel hurt, anxious, anger within you.

How would people heal from such experiences.

Good question -

Easiest way:

::Spend time with them, and be there for them


1. What is inside this work?

To see what clinicians and researchers are saying on this area.


A Good Survey of Perspectives of Trauma from:

1. Psychodynamic View
2. Neurobiological Perspectives
3. Evolutionary Perspective

2. Any other shorter work?

My review of similar work,

Widen the Window

It seems that Researchers, Clinicians have missed aspects of human life that can't be quantified.

Deus Vult,
Gottfried

[Katie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an extraordinary book. Many reviews here say this is an accessible book for the lay person. I feel that this may be true, but I suspect a more grounded and deeper understanding of therapeutic, jungian and trauma concepts will make this book a much more worthwhile endeavour.
Through it, I have learnt several new ideas, phrases and concepts.
In particular: Earned Secure Attachment - an addition to Attachment theory. Which acknowledges the change brought about by those with insecure forms of attachment who have undertaken deep work to rebuild their own inner sense of security and self. I have understood this conceptually but it is a joy to see it acknowledged and validated in written form. Particularly for those of us who have undertaken this work in order to facilitate their own relationship with their own children.
I also found the Evolutionary Biology perspective helpful. As an objective model of thought to apply to social and familial constructs of experience. It does make sense to me, of the whys and thus interrupt shame cycles of self blame or blaming others. I can see these concepts are at the very early (pre?) stage, of integration with psychiatry. This is exciting in many ways, what an interesting method of analysis of deeper emotional impact and trauma! But I also felt impatient not to know more, right away. I suppose I shall have to seek out more works in this intersection.
I want to read this book all over again immediately, just like my 4 year old is doing with early reader Star War's stories. But I'll give myself some time to let the emotional resonance sit, and return again at another point.

[Sahil Mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a multi-perspective approach for understanding emotional trauma - psychological, neurological and evolutionary. It tries to form a cohorent narrative as to what do we feel, how those feelings corresponds to an underlying biological reality and why/how biological reality developed over time.

Author encourages to move beyond philosophical 'why' of emotional trauma and start doing the hard work necessary for healing. Language structure is simple and conversations are interesting, though advice given in conversations is a bit repetitive but it helps to reinforce it.

Overall it's a great book to read slowly while contemplating one's own past and trying to relate it with what is being said in the conversations.

[Diba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complete analysis of trauma with the focus on social and cultural elements, this book goes through different conversations with clinical experts in trauma theory and field to collect new ideas about the evolution and the way of resistance towards traumatic event.

[Sue Lyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly written And accessible for the lay reader of the latest research and thinking from leading Researchers. Very interesting chapter on attachment. Looks at emotional trauma through the eyes of different disciplinary approaches. Provides a good overview of the field for beginners.