Searching For Connection: An Exploration of Trauma, Culture, and Hope

by Karen Merriam

At the heart of traumatic experience important connections to safety, hope, and strength are severed. Even in the darkest situations, however, personal and collective resources can be discovered and brought to bear to help oneself and others endure. Through a series of personal stories and case studies, author Karen Merriam, an expert on trauma, shows us the common factors that allow individuals and communities to survive and overcome the most devastating experiences. Unique to the book is the compelling connection that emerges between human trauma and the traumatic losses now evident in our natural environment. The book demonstrates how recovery from all types of trauma requires an appreciation for the essential interdependence of all things. It encourages a sense of community and common purpose.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published May 8, 2006