Trauma Demystified: A Guide for Students and Practitioners

1 Introduction and Historical context - ‘grandmas times’
2 So, what is trauma and how might it manifest?
3 Research in trauma: multimodal creative, critical and transcultural methodologies
4 Neurobiology trauma research
5 Cases from 80 years of practice 
6 Psychopathology and Complex trauma
7 Contemporary Trauma approaches and their limitations 
8 Critical perspectives: a cautionary note to our traumatic memory understanding
9 Love and the relational aspect to trauma, The therapeutic relationship, self-care and Trauma focused Supervision
10 A contemporary systemic perspectives to trauma
11 Cross/Transcultural perspectives to working with trauma
12 Post traumatic growth and endings

“This book will be of immensurable value to counselling and psychotherapy students and qualified therapists alike.”
Lesley Dougan, Programme Lead, MA Counselling & Psychotherapy Practice, Liverpool John Moores University, UK

“Much is written about trauma, but much less is written with such a depth of practice experience, academic insight and an honouring of the human experience. The authors have brought together so much that is helpful to all those involved in working with trauma. An essential text that takes our understanding to a new level.”
Professor Andrew Reeves, Professor of Counselling Professions and Mental Health, University of Chester, UK

Trauma Demystified: A Guide for Students and Practitioners is a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to psychological trauma. The authors draw on a wealth of research to encourage readers to reflect and apply these theories to their own contexts. Practical case studies and vignettes guide the reader through each stage of the therapeutic relationship to inform their own treatment and practice.

Incorporating a range of approaches and perspectives, the book explores the complex nature of trauma and understands it as a whole-body phenomenon that goes beyond an intrapsychic process. The authors examine the impact of wider societal factors and identify trauma as a relational experience, centring the therapeutic relationship as the means to healing.

The book:
• Covers topics such as boundary setting, treatment planning and post-traumatic growth
• Adopts a transcultural, inclusive perspective
• Breaks down complex ideas into accessible approaches
• Bridges the gap between theory and practice

Written from a multi-dimensional viewpoint, this book provides a holistic and nuanced exploration of trauma. For students and practitioners alike, Trauma Demystified provides a foundational understanding of historical and contemporary trauma practices.

Dr Divine Charura is a Professor of Counselling Psychology at York St John University, UK and is a Counselling Psychologist and Coaching Psychologist. 

Dr Mark McFetridge is a Clinical Tutor at the University of Hull, and was previously the Lead for Psychology at the Retreat, York, UK. 

Dr Emma Bradshaw is a Counselling Psychologist working in independent practice.