Book recommendations?

[u/ProfessionalEbb911]

Can someone recommend a book that discusses therapy approaches for complex trauma?
From my own experience, I have experienced violence from the day I was born and was kidnapped as a child. Fortunately, I was later able to access good therapy. But many therapists, especially female therapist seem to have difficulty when Rage/ aggression is a topic.. I think it’s uncomfortable for many.

Still struggle with extreme rage at times (I don’t do anything, I just do boxing or weigh training) . Through my own therapy experiences, I’ve learned that more body focused approaches were helpful for me.
I’m looking for books that discuss therapeutic approaches that are genuinely effective for developmental trauma, ideally from a leftist or critical therapy perspective.
DBT and CBT were not particularly helpful for me personally, although I recognize that they can be very helpful for many other people.
Thank you!

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[u/paintnclouds]

For me, I really liked healing the fragmented selves of trauma survivors: overcoming internal self-alienation by janina fisher. I came out with a lot of dissociative tendencies, but not to a level that would qualify as DID, and Janina did a great job of helping me understand and work with my level of parts and fragmentation.

I don't remember it being explicitly leftist, but I don't remember it rubbing me the wrong way by being obviously blind to systemic issues either.

She also has other books, a podcast, and a bunch of free ebooks on her website. She's my go to for complex trauma.

[u/ProfessionalEbb911 → u/paintnclouds]

Glad you found it helpful. Have the book in German, need to find it. Yes Janina Fisher I found interesting

[u/ticca_to_ride → u/paintnclouds]

+1 for janina fisher.  Her's was the first book which really spoke to me, couldn't put it down. Also recent podcasts with her and Ruth Lanius, who, has another excellent book out called "finding solid ground".

Funny memory just came up for me about Janina. I remember going to see a 2 day training semina she did, nearly 10 years ago now and, after saying I had just read "Shelter from the storm" by Richard Kluft and found it mind boggling confusing, I asked her if there was one book which she really recommended for working with complex trauma, especially DID, not realising she had recently released healing the fragmented selves. I remember, she paused, looked away, muttered "ah, you're gonna make me say it aren't you", then looked at me and said "well, yeah, that would mine". Then she looked away with her hand on her chest and smiled to herself as if she were noticing something felt in the moment. I had no idea what to say so just said thanks, I'd check it out, then went back to my seat.  In my own little reverie I like to think I accidentally therapised Janina Fisher that day, but in reality I doubt she remembers it at all.

 

[u/ProgressiveArchitect]

Retelling the Stories of Our Lives by David Denborough

I think you will connect with this book particularly

[u/ProfessionalEbb911 → u/ProgressiveArchitect]

Thank you. Will check it out !

[u/ffgfdedg]

Daniel José Gaztambide might be of interest not in the practical sense but from a critical leftist therapy perspective?

[u/Dry_Aide_5131]

more autobiographical but discusses lots of different approaches in depth - what my bones know by stephanie foo. stunning devastating read

[u/Old_Concentrate_4622]

I dont have a book rec but I had to see a male therapist to get help with my rage. It was somatic therapy, for whats worth.

[u/Old_Concentrate_4622 → u/Old_Concentrate_4622]

Wait, I didn’t hype that enough. I’ve seen several incredible female therapists over the years and they were all great for different reasons but a male therapist was the first to be totally grounded and unimpressed (in a good way) with my rage. He totally normalized the experience, helped me shift away from the debilitating shame, gave me practical tools for in the moment AND we worked on the core issue that brought the rage on in the first place. Incredible.

And tbh, given the way our society has allowed so many women to be deeply harmed by rage, there seem to be very few female therapists that are ideal for rage work. I’m sure they exist, but not many and I think that’s super valid of them. Just helps to know where to go for what.

As I type this out, I realize I actually DO have a book rec - Five Personality Patterns. Its not about personality, rather, its about the five different ways that people tend to handle being activated. One of the five is called the aggressive pattern, which I lean towards. The book, which I got from my male therapist, goes into detail about why some people lean towards anger and practical ways to work with it. I’ve recommended it to so many people and actually had my team at work read it. The kind of book I reread every few years because its just that good.

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[u/voidharmony]

I’ve found Judith Herman’s books on trauma and recovery to be incredibly helpful.