Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors Overcoming Internal Self-Alienation

Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors integrates a neurobiologically informed understanding of trauma, dissociation, and attachment with a practical approach to treatment, all communicated in straightforward language accessible to both client and therapist. Readers will be exposed to a model that emphasizes "resolution"?a transformation in the relationship to one?s self, replacing shame, self-loathing, and assumptions of guilt with compassionate acceptance. Its unique interventions have been adapted from a number of cutting-edge therapeutic approaches, including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, mindfulness-based therapies, and clinical hypnosis. Readers will close the pages of Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors with a solid grasp of therapeutic approaches to traumatic attachment, working with undiagnosed dissociative symptoms and disorders, integrating "right brain-to-right brain" treatment methods, and much more. Most of all, they will come away with tools for helping clients create an internal sense of safety and compassionate connection to even their most dis-owned selves.

Table of Contents

List of Figures

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter One: Alienation from Self: How We Survive Overwhelming Experiences

Chapter Two: Understanding Parts, Understanding Traumatic Responses

Chapter Three: Parts Instead of Wholes: New Roles for Client and Therapist

Chapter Four: Seeing Our ‘Selves:’ an Introduction to Parts Work

Chapter Five: Befriending Our Parts: Sowing Seeds of Compassion

Chapter Six: Complications of Treatment: Traumatic Attachment

Chapter Seven: Treatment Challenges: Suicidality, Self-Harm, Addictions, and Eating Disorders

Chapter Eight: Complications of Treatment: Dissociative Disorders

Chapter Nine: Repairing the Past: Embracing Our Selves

Chapter Ten: Restoring What was Lost to Wounded Children

Appendix A: Five Steps to "Unblending"

Appendix B: Meditation Circle for Parts

Appendix C: Internal Dialogue Technique

Appendix D: Treatment Paradigm for Internal Attachment Repair

Appendix E: Dissociative Experiences Log

Appendix F: The Four Befriending Questions

Janina Fisher, PhD, is assistant education director of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, an EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) consultant, and a former instructor at the Trauma Center, a clinic and research center founded by Bessel van der Kolk. Known for her expertise as a clinician, author, and presenter, she is also past president of the New England Society for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation, a former instructor at Harvard Medical School, and coauthor (with Pat Ogden) of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and Attachment.