Relational Treatment of Trauma : Stories of Loss and Hope

__Relational Treatment of Trauma: Stories of loss and hope__ is the culmination of over 35 years of psychotherapy with children and adults, many of whom have suffered the effects of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. It addresses a gap in the literature on the treatment of trauma and chronic loss that are ubiquitous parts of life in foster care. While "trauma-informed care" has received considerable attention recently, there is little that focuses on the consequences of repeated, unexpected, and unexplained or unexplainable losses of caregivers. __Relational Treatment of Trauma__ explores the ways in which those experiences arise in the therapeutic relationship and shows how to help clients build the trust necessary for establishing healthier, and more satisfying and hopeful relationships. **Toni Heineman** introduces and reinforces the concept of the relationship as the most powerful agent of therapeutic change. She highlights the ways in which clinicians can build and sustain a relationship with clients whose experience of trauma can make them wary of trusting, illustrating this theme throughout the book with compelling case vignettes. The book is especially valuable for psychoanalysts, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and family therapists working with those who have suffered traumatic loss. It is essential reading for clinicians in the early part of their career, working with traumatized individuals for the first time. Dr. Heineman has practiced in San Francisco for over 35 years, working with children, adults, and families. **She is the founder and executive director of A Home Within. Dr. Heineman presents and publishes widely.** Relational Treatment of Trauma: Stories of loss and hope is the culmination of over 35 years of psychotherapy with children and adults, many of whom have suffered the effects of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. It addresses a gap in the literature on the treatment of trauma and chronic loss that are ubiquitous parts of life in foster care. While "trauma-informed care" has received considerable attention recently, there is little that focuses on the consequences of repeated, unexpected, and unexplained or unexplainable losses of caregivers. Relational Treatment of Trauma explores the ways in which those experiences arise in the therapeutic relationship and shows how to help clients build the trust necessary for establishing healthier, and more satisfying and hopeful relationships. Toni Heineman introduces and reinforces the concept of the relationship as the most powerful agent of therapeutic change. She highlights the ways in which clinicians can build and sustain a relationship with clients whose experience of trauma can make them wary of trusting, illustrating this theme throughout the book with compelling case vignettes. The book will be essential reading for psychoanalysts, clinical psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, and family therapists working with children who have been affected by abuse; and it will be valuable to clinicians in the early part of their career, who are working for the first time with children suffering from abuse Cover 1 Title 8 Copyright 9 Dedication 10 CONTENTS 12 Acknowledgements 14 Permissions acknowledgements 16 Introduction 18 SECTION I Getting started 22 1 A Home Within: A network to address the emotional needs of foster youth 26 SECTION II The dynamics of attachment and trauma 32 2 Relationships beget relationships: The value of attachment theory 34 3 How can you treat what you cannot speak? 49 4 Good guys and bad guys: The temptations of splitting 62 SECTION III Systemic impingements 76 5 In search of the romantic family: Unconscious contributions to problems in foster and adoptive placements 78 6 Weaving without a loom: Creating a self in foster care 98 7 Hunger pangs: Transference and countertransference in the treatment of foster children 110 SECTION IV Treatment in the context of scarcity and loss 120 8 Disrupted care and disruptive moods: Pediatric bipolar disorder in foster care children 122 9 Infant–parent psychotherapy minus one 132 10 Learning to say goodbye: The deaths of three fathers 146 SECTION V Back to basics 164 11 The essence of Relationship-Based Therapy 166 References 186 Index 194 A Home Within : a network to address the emotional needs of foster youth -- The dynamics of attachment and trauma -- Relationships beget relationships : the value of attachment theory -- How can you treat what you cannot speak? -- Good guys and bad guys -- In search of the romantic family -- Weaving without a loom -- Hunger pangs -- Disrupted care and disruptive moods -- Infant parent psychotherapy minus one -- Learning to say goodbye : the deaths of three fathers -- The essence of relationship-based therapy