In this book, Dr. Carol W. Berman describes how to help patients control the self-sabotaging element of their unconscious minds, often called the punitive superego, the negative introject, or the hurt child. The negative introject can provoke horrendous acts against the self, ranging from suicide and addiction to making hurtful comments to loved ones. The role of the psychotherapist is to make the unconscious conscious, allowing the sufferers to take back control of their actions. Dr. Berman uses case studies to personalize the theory and demonstrate how the negative introject can take hold and impact the lives of those suffering from a variety of illnesses and disorders, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorder. Each chapter concludes with a guide demonstrating how the negative introject was tamed in each case, showing the reader that the negative introject can be identified and then brought into some control. This book is essential reading for all kinds of psychotherapists, from psychiatrists to social workers and psychologists, as well as all those who wish to identify the negative introject, and help "tame" it.

In this book, Dr. Carol W. Berman describes how to help patients control the self-sabotaging element of their unconscious minds, often called the punitive superego, the negative introject, or the hurt child. The negative introject can provoke horrendous acts against the self, ranging from suicide and addiction to making hurtful comments to loved ones. The role of the psychotherapist is to make the unconscious conscious, allowing the sufferers to take back control of their actions. Dr. Berman uses case studies to personalize the theory and demonstrate how the negative introject can take hold and impact the lives of those suffering from a variety of illnesses and disorders, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and bipolar disorder. Each chapter concludes with a guide demonstrating how the negative introject was tamed in each case, showing the reader that the negative introject can be identified and then brought into some control. This book is essential reading for all kinds of psychotherapists, from psychiatrists to social workers and psychologists, as well as all those who wish to identify the negative introject, and help "tame" it.

Departing from the sociological dual process model that divides thoughts into automatic and unconscious, or deliberate and conscious occurrences, this book draws on empirical cases to demonstrate the existence of “automatic deliberation.” Through research into the ways in which people address difficult subjects, such as death and dying, pedophilia, and career decision-making, the author sheds light on a mode of thinking which is both habitual and effortful, displaying a combination of habituated understandings and conscious deliberation. Advancing a blended view of cognition by which individuals draw on schemas and frames to think through complex topics, this volume will appeal to sociologists and psychologists with interests in cognition and the ways in which we make decisions.

"The first time I saw a play was when I was twelve and a nerdy math major in junior high. Our class went to downtown Los Angeles and saw a Shakespeare play. I forget which one we saw (I only remember it was about a king), but I fell in love with theater right then and there. They were talking in some weird variation of English to my mind, but the actors were so good, I could immediately understand what they meant. I came from a working-class family, and the only thing I'd watched until then was TV or a movie. I probably developed a neural network at that time, which connected the scientific part of my brain to my artistic part"--

"Anyone who works with troubled children and their families should not miss this book. Healing the Fractured Child weaves together comprehensive theory and neurobiology that substantiate practical treatment guidelines for children and their families. The complexity of symptoms, diagnoses, assessment, use of medication, and a variety of innovative treatment approaches for stabilization, trauma processing and integration are explored and come to life through the clear, practical and touching clinical illustrations peppered throughout the book. Fran Waters has drawn on her vast clinical experience and thorough knowledge of current perspectives on dissociation and child therapy to write an integrative, readable, and immensely useful masterpiece, a gift to the field of child psychology and psychotherapy and to the many therapists, children and parents who will benefit from her wisdom." --Pat Ogden PhD, Founder, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute; Author, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Interventions for Trauma and Attachment "A skillfully written, comprehensive and remarkable volume. Well-grounded in theory and full of rich, practical applications and detailed case examples. Water's outstanding work will expand clinicians' capacity to understand and assess dissociation as well as to effectively accompany children in their healing journeys. An essential resource for therapists of all orientations working with trauma and dissociation." Ana M. GÛmez, MC, LPC, Author of EMDR Therapy and Adjunct Approaches with Children: Complex Trauma, Attachment and Dissociation "Healing the Fractured Child" provides an invaluable source of information for all professionals and non-professionals interested in childhood dissociation. Based on her many years of experience in this field, Waters takes us from an explanation of dissociation and related theories to the behaviors which may be noticed by a parent, teacher or doctor, through the assessment quagmire and the challenges of parenting, to the important work of emotional regulation and the identification of self-states, bringing in consideration of where medication can or cannot assist and describing the hard work of trauma processing, to integration, possible relapse, and back again to even stronger internal integration. The intricately described clinical examples provide a plethora of ideas for working with these children and offer readers the encouragement and hope so important for working with children who experienced trauma. Sandra Wieland, Ph.D., R.Psych. Illuminates the most promising treatments available for dissociative children Written by one of the nation's leading practitioners in the field of childhood trauma, abuse, and dissociation, this comprehensive resource fills a void in the literature to provide in-depth knowledge of current interventions for treating dissociation in youth. It describes a detailed, careful assessment process and creative, evidence-supported techniques for helping children and their families to heal from chaotic, traumatizing experiences. With both a theoretical and practical focus, the book offers proven strategies for successfully treating children and adolescents with varying degrees of dissociation and co-morbid symptoms. It also integrates adjunct therapies in environments beyond those of traditional psychotherapy, such as school, and describes how their strategies can be used effectively to augment therapy and understand dissociative children. Based on a model integrating five prominent therapeutic modalities, and underscoring the importance of attachment style, the book focuses on the neurobiology of trauma, a high co-morbidity of symptoms, specialized clinical interventions, psychopharmacology, and family intervention techniques. Also addressed are adjunct therapies in art, and EMDR. In addition, the book provides a window into the effects of traumatic events such as medical illness that may be overlooked, and safe techniques with dissociative youth who are exhibiting dangerous behaviors. Rich clinical examples demonstrate the various phases of treatment and offer a window into the internal world of dissociative children. This resource provides mental health clinicians, and other health professionals with a wealth of tools to effectively treat this troubled client population. Key Features: Describes theoretical conceptualization and specialized integrative techniques to treat dissociative children effectively Integrates psychotherapy with EMDR, art therapy, neurobiology and psychopharmacology Distills current research on neurobiology of trauma and how to intervene with specially designed treatment strategies Provides in-depth knowledge of the latest creative interventions for treatment across degrees and ages of dissociation, and co-morbid symptoms Sensitizes the therapist to often overlooked traumatic events, e.g. medical illness, that can exacerbate symptoms

Confusion, splitting, shame and guilt are problematic feelings for all people with complex, lasting ramifications associated with dissociative processing in the psychic. Direct or indirect interpersonal violence in particular, however, creates a multiple of these gruelling conditions and that too in very paradoxical states, so that one feels torn apart although one has acted correctly or feels guilty for something one has not done at all or feels shame for an abuse one has survived as a victim. A variety of such interesting phenomena are explained by experts in such a way that both practitioners and trauma clients and non-professionals can understand them well. Photos from the therapy facilitate the clarity and show in particular SPIM-30 programme treatment settings, for which derivations can be found in this book.