Partner violence, unfortunately, threads through society. Our U.S. Congress now has a champion in addressing this issue —- Representative Cori Bush, who has a personal history with domestic violence. If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic violence, I highly recommend Safe Horizon as an entry point to get help.
JUDITH HERMAN
Judith Herman’s pathbreaking 1992 Trauma and Recovery changed the way and expanded how we think about trauma. This landmark book was instrumental in guiding psychotherapists to better understand how to work with people who experience a range of traumatic events —- from domestic violence, to combat, to sexual assault and child abuse.
We are lucky that Herman has now followed up with Truth and Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice. As Herman writes: “If traumatic disorders are afflictions of the powerless, then empowerment must be a central principle of recovery. If trauma shames and isolates, then recovery must take place in community.” This book helps us consider what steps are most helpful for each individual survivor of trauma and how best to move forward in their own healing process. Thank you Judith Herman.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PSYCHOANALYSIS
Psychoanalysis has a bad reputation these days. It's treated as some sort of boogeyman: the cold, withholding analyst sitting silently behind the patient who is floundering on the couch. In fact, in terms of talk therapies, psychoanalysis offers a unique opportunity to delve deeply into what makes us tick, and to understand why we can end up doing things or being with people who aren't good for us. Analysis helps us bring buried feelings and thoughts to the surface. It also helps us see how we can erroneously project experiences from our childhood onto current relationships. One of the best books I know that outlines current analytic thinking is Owen Renick's Practical Psychoanalysis for Therapists and Patients. Through various case studies, Renick demonstrates how he actively listens to and participates in his patients' healing processes. The book is a joy to read and goes a long way in correcting any misconceptions about what psychoanalysis has to offer today.