Therapy with traumatised clients can be fraught with problems and therapists working with these clients seek greater understanding of the specific problems they encounter. Trauma Therapy and Clinical Practice weaves together neuroscience research and the experience of trauma, taking a fresh look at how original Gestalt theory informs our current understanding of trauma therapy. The book: Places trauma and trauma therapy in a relational field model Includes material on change processes, triggers, dissociation, shame, enactment and resources Describes clearly the neurobiology of trauma and the role of the body in maintaining trauma reactions and in the recovery process Offers experiments for deepening the therapist's embodied presence Provides numerous clinical examples and an extended case study Miriam Taylor offers readers a theoretical basis for interventions and shows how simple Gestalt concepts can be applied in trauma therapy. By creating the conditions in which awareness, choice and vitality can grow, contemporary relational Gestalt is shown to be exceptionally well suited for trauma clients. The book is presented in three parts covering theory, the phenomenology of trauma and the therapeutic relationship. Including a glossary for readers unfamiliar with Gestalt therapy, case studies and reflection points, this book is a thoughtful and coherent guide for trainees and practitioners in counselling and therapy. "Miriam Taylor has done a simply tremendous job in articulating an expanded Gestalt approach to trauma treatment that is informed by, and integrated with, modern neurobiological approaches to trauma ... This book should be read by everyone treating trauma and I expect it to become a foundational text in our field." James Kepner, Gestalt therapist and international trainer in Gestalt Body Process Psychotherapy "Taylor's book is a theoretically and clinically sophisticated approach to working with trauma from a phenomenological vantage point. Her book hadan immediate effect on my work." Lynne Jacobs, co-founder, Pacific Gestalt Institute, USA "Destined to become a classic in Gestalt therapy literature. Well-written, insightful, compassionate, and practical, it will assist many a therapist." Malcolm Parlett, Visiting Professor of Gestalt Psychotherapy, University of Derby, UK (now retired) "I am profoundly grateful to Miriam Taylor for writing this book. I just wish that she could have written it before 2002 when I began my own training in Gestalt psychotherapy. There is a section at the beginning called ‘Praise for this book’ which includes very positive prepublication comments from Malcolm Parlett, James Kepner, and Lynne Jacobs. Now that I have read the book for myself, I find myself in agreement with their comments and want to add my own round of applause ... I consider that Taylor has made a major contribution to our field in taking this enterprise forward." British Gestalt Journal2014, Vol. 23, No. 2, 47–58 "Taylor’s remarkable contribution is a reminder that Gestalt Therapy Theory is alive and kicking and demonstrating how Gestalt can and should become the therapy of choice for trauma workers." Review published in Self and Society

“This book, now in its second edition, has become a classic in clinical studies of trauma. Its informed content, deeply humane style, numerous clinical examples, flowing narrative and ethical clarity make it an essential contribution to all contemporary clinicians and psychotherapists-in-training of any approach.” Margherita Spagnuolo Lobb, Director of the Italian Gestalt Therapy Institute, Italy “This book calls us to think critically about the language we use; to regularly examine our cherished theories and ways of working; and to embrace multiple perspectives... I would recommend it to all therapists, wherever they are in their careers.” Dr Sue Wright, Integrative and Sensorimotor Psychotherapist, UK Working with traumatised clients can present challenges and complexities for therapists as they navigate what are often highly specific, deep-rooted issues. Trauma Therapy and Clinical Practice has been fully updated to reflect the changes that have impacted therapy research over the past decade and represents a major advancement in how trauma is perceived. While staying true to her premise of trauma as an embodied experience and retaining the book’s popular three-part structure, in this new edition trauma is repositioned as a social justice issue and reconsiders the emphasis on neuroscience, taking trauma theory further into a relational view. This new edition: • Thoroughly explores the role of fear, helplessness, dissociation and shame • Offers valuable insights into restoring continuity of self and of time • Contains updated, diverse references and intersectional analyses • Uses refreshed pedagogy to help deepen learning • Critically discusses concepts such as mindfulness in relation to trauma therapy. Written in her trademark accessible and personal writing style, Miriam Taylor examines the application of both neuroscience and Gestalt theory in recovery, presenting a considered theoretical basis for working with highly traumatised people. The new edition of Trauma Therapy and Clinical Practice is at the cutting edge of contemporary trauma thinking and is essential reading for trainees and practitioners in counselling and therapy. Miriam Taylor is a semi-retired Gestalt psychotherapist, supervisor and international trainer. With over 30 years’ experience of working with trauma, her approach is embodied and relational in the widest possible sense. She is the author of Deepening Trauma Practice and is on the Leadership Team of Relational Change, UK.

This is an imminently practical workbook that shows a variety of invaluable techniques to get centered, calm and organized. An effective and enjoyable guide to help you feel in charge of yourself." ~ Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. This is the workbook that all mental health professionals wish they had at the beginning of their careers. Containing over 100 approaches to effectively deal with trauma, this workbook pulls together a wide array of treatments into one concise resource. Equally useful in both group and individual settings, these interventions will provide hope and healing for the client, as well as expand and solidify the professional's expertise. Tools and techniques drawn from the most effective trauma modalities: * Art Therapy * CBT * DBT * EFT * EMDR * Energy Psychology * Focusing * Gestalt Therapy * Guided Imagery * Mindfulness * Psychodrama * Sensorimotor Psychology * Somatic Experiencing and Movement Therapies -BONUS: Book includes a link to all reproducible worksheets! Print and use with clients right away!! Praise for 101 Trauma-Informed Interventions: “Linda Curran's unflagging energy and dedication to the healing of traumatized individuals has led to a voluminous, exciting, and comprehensive, 101 Trauma Informed Interventions. This workbook provides a plethora of effective tools -- traditional as well as innovative -- that can be used in whole or as a part of a course of therapy and also as self-help. The variety of options offered goes a long way towards dispelling the (unfortunately) popular misconception that there are only a limited number of interventions that help people to recover from trauma. Survivors as well as therapists who have been frustrated by the rigidity of strict adherence to evidence based practice will be greatly relieved to find a wealth of useful strategies to experiment, evaluate, and sort into a personally tailored trauma recovery program. This workbook is a god-send for the trauma field, expanding the possibilities for recovery in a most generous way.” ~ Babette Rothschild, MSW author of The Body Remembers and 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery "Linda Curran has carefully and knowledgeably curated a practical, effective collection of interventions that actually work for trauma survivors. Any clinician committed to helping those suffering from posttraumatic stress needs to have these tools and resources to draw upon, because standard talk therapy, nine times out of ten, is simply not going to cut it. These exercises will." ~ Belleruth Naparstek, LISW, author of Invisible Heroes: Survivors of Trauma and How They Heal “Drawing from the whole spectrum of trauma-based therapies, Linda Curran has compiled a sampling of practical exercises designed to help therapists and their clients better navigate the mine field that trauma work can be and find the path to healing.” ~ Richard Schwartz, Ph.D. author of Internal Family Systems Therapy "101 Trauma-Informed Interventions provides an accessible functional “playbook” for therapists committed to the rehabilitation of the client with a trauma history. In a readable volume Curran integrates diverse approaches of treatment and emphasizes the unique role that trauma plays in mental health. Underlying this eclectic strategy is the common theme emphasizing that healing will only begin when the trauma related feelings embedded in the body are appreciated." ~ Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D., author of The Polyvagal Theory "An interesting compendium of potential interventions that can be interwoven into any therapist's existing conceptual framework" ~ Louis Cozolino, Ph.D., Pepperdine University, and author of 5 books including the best-seller The Neuroscience of Psychotherapy, Healing the Social Brain (2nd edition)

This book, part of the acclaimed Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology, brings interpersonal neurobiology into the counseling room, weaving the concepts of neurobiology into the ever-changing flow of therapy. Neuroscientific discoveries have begun to illuminate the workings of the active brain in intricate detail. In fact, sometimes it seems that in order to be a cutting-edge therapist, not only do you need knowledge of traditional psychotherapeutic models, but a solid understanding of the role the brain plays as well. But theory is never enough. You also need to know how to apply the theories to work with actual clients during sessions. In easy-to-understand prose, Being a Brain-Wise Therapist reviews the basic principles about brain structure, function, and development, and explains the neurobiological correlates of some familiar diagnostic categories. You will learn how to make theory come to life in the midst of clinical work, so that the principles of interpersonal neurobiology can be applied to a range of patients and issues, such as couples, teens, and children, and those dealing with depression, anxiety, and other disorders. Liberal use of exercises and case histories enliven the material and make this an essential guide for seamlessly integrating the latest neuroscientific research into your therapeutic practice.

The Handbook of Body Psychotherapy and Somatic Psychology provides a comprehensive overview of body-centered psychotherapies, which stress the centrality of the body to overcoming psychological distress, trauma, and mental illness. Psychologists and therapists are increasingly incorporating these somatic or body-oriented therapies into their practices, making mind-body connections that enable them to provide better care for their clients. Designed as a standard text for somatic psychology courses, The Handbook of Body Psychotherapy and Somatic Psychology contains 100 cutting-edge essays and studies by respected professionals from around the world on such topics as the historical roots of Body Psychotherapy; the role of the body in developmental psychology; the therapeutic relationship in Body Psychotherapy; and much more, as well as helpful case studies and essays on the use of Body Psychotherapy for specific disorders. This anthology will be indispensible for students of clinical and counseling psychology, somatic psychology, and various forms of body-based therapy (including dance and movement therapies), and is also an essential reference work for most practicing psychotherapists, regardless of their therapeutic orientation. Contributors: Gustl Marlock, Halko Weiss, Courtenay Young, Michael Soth, Ulfried Geuter, Judyth O. Weaver, Wolf E. Büntig, Nicholas Bassal, Michael Coster Heller, Heike Langfeld, Dagmar Rellensmann, Don Hanlon Johnson, Christian Gottwald, Andreas Wehowsky, Gregory J. Johanson, David Boadella, Alexander Lowen, Ian J. Grand, Marilyn Morgan, Stanley Keleman, Eugene T. Gendlin, Marion N. Hendricks-Gendlin, Michael Harrer, Ian J. Grand, Marianne Bentzen, Andreas Sartory, George Downing, Andreas Wehowsky, Marti Glenn, Ed Tronick, Bruce Perry, Susan Aposhyan, Mark Ludwig, Ute-Christiane Bräuer, Ron Kurtz, Christine Caldwell, Albert Pesso, Michael Randolph, William F. Cornell, Richard A. Heckler, Gill Westland, Lisbeth Marcher, Erik Jarlnaes, Kirstine Münster, Tilmann Moser, Frank Röhricht, Ulfried Geuter, Norbert Schrauth, Ilse Schmidt-Zimmermann, Peter Geissler, Ebba Boyesen, Peter Freudl, James Kepner, Dawn Bhat, Jacqueline Carleton, Ian Macnaughton, Peter A. Levine, Stanley Keleman, Narelle McKenzie, Jack Lee Rosenberg, Beverly Kitaen Morse, Angela Belz-Knöferl, Lily Anagnostopoulou, William F. Cornell, Guy Tonella, Sasha Dmochowski, Asaf Rolef Ben-Shahar, Jacqueline A. Carleton, Manfred Thielen, Xavier Serrano Hortelano, Pat Ogden, Kekuni Minton, Thomas Harms, Nicole Gäbler, John May, Rob Fisher, Eva R. Reich, Judyth O. Weaver, Barnaby B. Barratt, Sabine Trautmann-Voigt, Wiltrud Krauss-Kogan, Ilana Rubenfeld, Camilla Griggers, Serge K. D. Sulz, Nossrat Peseschkian, Linda H. Krier, Jessica Moore Britt, and Daniel P. Brown.

Psychological trauma profoundly affects the body, often disrupting normal physical functioning when left unresolved. This work provides a review of research in neuroscience, trauma dissociation and attachment theory that points to the need for an integrative mind-body approach to trauma.

Originally published by Viking Penguin, 2014.