Approaches to Psychic Trauma

Theory and Practice

Edited by Bernd Huppertz

Paperback - £58.00

Publication date:

16 October 2018

Length of book:

524 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Dimensions:

221x150mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781442258167

Approaches to Psychic Trauma: Theory and Practice covers the many developments in the relatively new field of trauma therapy. It examines the nature of the wide variety of treatments available for traumatized people, describing elements they have in common and those that are specific to each treatment. Originating with the editor’s clinical experience working with patients from the former German Democratic Republic, contributors then discuss alternative therapies including ego psychology, self psychology, object-relations theory, attachment theory, psychoanalysis, and art therapies. Case studies further illustrate the application and practice.

Approaches to Psychic Trauma presents a diversity of theories and tools centering on trauma and history, and through the microcosm of individual personalities one may have a close-up view of how historical events, as well as personal narratives and reactions to them, consciously and unconsciously affect the individual.

Essential: Approaches to Psychic Trauma is an exhaustive volume describing the various elements of trauma and its treatments. The first strength of the book lies in its organization. The reader is first given a brief history of the concept of trauma and its various therapeutic approaches, followed by in-depth discussion of the different types and presentations of trauma, succeeded by an overview of the current approaches to treatment—including art therapy and the neurosequential model of therapeutics (NMT), which seeks to address the biological developmental changes that happen to children after trauma. The chapter on NMT is an especially valuable one as hospitals, clinics, schools, and communities are increasingly recognizing the importance of considering the role that traumatic and abusive environments play in child development. The second strength of the book lies in the clinical material, which includes eight case studies of traumatic experiences and treatment. While this book will not be helpful for undergraduates or non-clinical graduate students, it is a necessary addition to collections serving clinical programs and current practitioners.