Healing the Traumatized Self: Consciousness, Neuroscience, Treatment

by Paul Frewen, Ruth Lanius, Bessel van der Kolk M.D. (Foreword)

A neurobiological explanation of self-awareness and the states of mind of severely traumatized people. Cultivation of emotional awareness is difficult, even for those of us not afflicted by serious mental illness. This book discusses the neurobiology behind emotional states and presents exercises for developing self awareness. Topics include mood (both unipolar and bipolar), anxiety (particularly PTSD), and dissociative disorders.  Frewen and Lanius comprehensively review psychological and neurobiological research, and explain how to use this research to become aware of emotional states within both normal and psychopathological functioning. Therapists will be able to help survivors of trauma, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and dissociative disorders develop emotional awareness. The book also includes case studies, detailed instructions for clinicians, and handouts ready for use in assessment/therapy with patients/clients.
35 illustrations, 12 pages of color

Genres: Psychology, Self Help

480 pages, Hardcover

First published March 25, 2013

Reviews

[Michael Dadson]

I enjoyed so much of this book but one of my favorite parts is the 4-D model of the Traumatized Self that highlights the distinction between the trauma-related altered states of consciousness of the body and the simpler states of subjective bodily referred distress that are maintained in normal consciousness. Further, the model makes helpful distinctions between symptomatology related to the perception of time, thought, body, and emotion. This is a very thoughtful journey into understanding the traumatized self by some leading researchers in the field.

[Mills College Library]

616.8521 F892 2015