Enduring Trauma Through the Life Cycle

by Eileen McGinley (Editor), Arturo Varchevker (Editor)

Overview

This is a multi-authored book on the complex subject of psychic trauma as encountered at different stages of the life-cycle, and describes some of the clinical challenges, technical issues and differing theoretical approaches that arise when working with the traumatized individual.The concept of psychic trauma is a complex subject, but one which has more recently gained prominence. This book contains a collection of papers which grew out of a series of talks given by the Psychoanalytic Forum of the British Psychoanalytical Society entitled Trauma Through the Life Cycle. The authors, all highly respected authorities in their fields, give insights into what we mean by psychic trauma, what constitutes a traumatic event, and the psychopathological sequelae to trauma at different stages of life. Judith Trowell and Nick Midgley look at the effects of infantile and childhood traumas. Catalina Bronstein and Sara Flanders, from differing psychoanalytic perspectives consider how childhood traumas can become reactivated in adolescence and colour subsequent developmental situations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780491059
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/01/2013
Pages:	262
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.06(h) x (d)

About the Author

Eileen McGinley is a Member of the British Psychoanalytical Society. She works as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy in the Psychotherapy Unit at the Maudsley Hospital, and as a Psychoanalyst in private practice in London. She is currently Honorary Secretary of the Scientific Committee of the British Psychoanalytic Society.

Arturo Varchevker is a Fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society, where he developed and chairs the Psychoanalytic Forum. He teaches in the UK and abroad, and his main area of interest in psychoanalysis is internal migration and psychic change. He is a marital and family therapist with a special interest in domestic violence and the impact of migration.

Table of Contents

Introduction — Childhood — The emotional impact of abusive experiences in childhood, particularly sexual abuse — “A soul in bondage”: the treatment of an abused latency-age boy — Adolescence — Nobody died! trauma in adolescence — What's so traumatic about adolescence? — Adulthood — External danger and internal threat — The Kraken awakens: the re-emergence of traumatic experiences when defences break down — Older Age — Trauma in old age: “passengers, next station is old age—are you ready?” — Immortality versus mortality: why are the elderly different? — Trauma and the Couple — The hidden traumas of the young boarding school child as seen through the lens of adult couple therapy — Trauma and Society — A German trauma?: the experience of the Second World War in Germany — Social trauma — Trauma in culture and society

Editorial Reviews

"This important book is at the cutting edge of current psychoanalytic thinking about trauma and its effects on the mind. I found it moving to read. The humanity of the authors shines through, as does the sophistication of their thinking about this complex subject. Rich in clinical detail, the book illuminates differences in technique and theory in a very useful way."

Sally Weintrobe

"Edited by Eileen McGinley and Arturo Varchevker, Enduring Trauma Through the Life Cycle is a collection of fine clinical papers that follow a psychic theme and its vicissitudes through the life cycle. This volume offers to the clinician and also the interested layman many insights into the various ways in which traumatic experiences are lodged in the mind and then, as life goes on, become re-activated in subsequent events. This is an outstanding book."

"This important book is at the cutting edge of current psychoanalytic thinking about trauma and its effects on the mind. I found it moving to read. The humanity of the authors shines through, as does the sophistication of their thinking about this complex subject. Rich in clinical detail, the book illuminates differences in technique and theory in a very useful way."

From the Publisher

"Edited by Eileen McGinley and Arturo Varchevker, Enduring Trauma Through the Life Cycle is a collection of fine clinical papers that follow a psychic theme and its vicissitudes through the life cycle. This volume offers to the clinician and also the interested layman many insights into the various ways in which traumatic experiences are lodged in the mind and then, as life goes on, become re-activated in subsequent events. This is an outstanding book."

Edna O’Shaughnessy