Table of Contents

Part I: Understanding Complex Trauma. 1. Understanding Trauma and Complex Trauma. 2. Understanding Trauma Symptoms. 3. Understanding the Role of Dissociation. 4. Understanding the Role of Attachment. Part II: Working with Complex Trauma. 5. Safe Trauma Therapy. 6. Therapeutic Challenges. 7. Building and Maintaining the Therapeutic Relationship. 8. The Process of Recovery and Healing. Part III: Skills to Manage Complex Trauma Symptoms. 9. Establishing Safety and Control. 10. Skills to Improve Daily Life. 11. Managing Sensations, Feelings and Grounding Skills. 12. Managing Flashbacks, Panic Attacks, Nightmares and Dissociation. 13. Managing Negative Thoughts and Beliefs. 14. Managing Memories. 15. Managing Shame and Guilt. 16. Managing Self-Harm. 17. Managing Boundaries. 18. Managing Relationships. 19. Managing Sexuality. 20. Managing Loss and Mourning. Part IV: Post Traumatic Growth. 21. Restoring Reality and Expressing Needs. 22. Relapse Prevention. 23. Reconnecting to Self and Post traumatic Growth. Part V: Professional Issues. 24. Practitioner Self Care. Appendices.Trauma Assessment Scales. Resources and Trauma Assessment. Organisations. References. Index.

Promotional Information

A comprehensive introduction to complex trauma accompanied by advice on how to create a safe environment for healing

About the Author

Christiane Sanderson is a lecturer in Psychology at the University of Roehampton, and Birkbeck College, University of London. With 25 years' experience working in child sexual abuse interpersonal trauma and domestic abuse (and trauma), she has run consultancy and training for parents, teachers, social workers, nurses, (therapists), counsellors, solicitors, the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Committee, the Methodist Church, the Metropolitan Police Service and the Refugee Council. She is author of Counselling Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, 3rd edition, Counselling Survivors of Domestic Abuse, The Seduction of Children: Empowering Parents and Teachers to Protect Children from Child Sexual Abuse, and Introduction to Counselling Survivors of Interpersonal Trauma, also published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She has also written The Warrior Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Sexual Violence and The Spirit Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Religious Sexual Abuse Across All Faiths for the charity One in Four.

Reviews

This book is fabulous... the absolute best I have ever read on the trauma associated with sex abuse. Written in clear language, it takes the understanding of the problem and the path to recovery to a new level, revealing the devastating nature of traumatic effects of abuse, but also providing a source of concrete hope through a realistic and attainable treatment and recovery program. The section on understanding complex trauma is a major gem in itself, and should be required reading for anyone involved in sex abuse at any level.
*Thomas Doyle, J.C.D., C.A.D.C, a Canon lawyer and outspoken advocate for clergy-abuse victims, USA*

This book has a great deal to offer to all counsellors and psychotherapists, as well as other practitioners who work with people who have experienced trauma within the context of close relationships. The great strength of this book is that it considers all aspects of this area of therapy in an informed, accessible, caring and comprehensive manner. It represents an exceptional contribution to the literature and will become essential reading for both trainees and experienced practitioners. A welcome example of how knowledge and skills from a range of medical, social and psychotherapeutic approaches can be integrated into a coherent model of practice.
*John McLeod, Emeritus Professor of Counselling, University of Abertay, UK; Professor of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway*