Trauma Therapy and Clinical Practice: Neuroscience, Gestalt and the Body

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; and, 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.