Keep Pain in the Past: Getting Over Trauma, Grief and the Worst That's Ever Happened to You

by Christopher Cortman, Joseph Walden

Overview

Heal your psychological pain and take back your life with this breakthrough process based on decades of successful treatment.

In Keep Pain in the Past, two of America’s top psychologists in the field of emotional trauma and PTSD share their highly effective methodology for recovering from painful psychological wounds. Whether it’s extreme trauma such as sexual abuse, the horrors of war, or the very serious pain of loss, grief, shame and guilt, their method can help you recover without years of intensive therapy.

Doctors Christ Cortman and Joseph Walden have been helping patients recover from trauma for decades. Through a combination of practical steps and illuminating stories, they share the tools and techniques that can help you identify and face your pain, find closure, and alleviate related issues such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, sleep disruption, and more.

Discover how Sheri, a thirty-seven-year-old attorney, recovered from panic attacks that seemed to come out of nowhere. Follow the journey of Mark, a twenty-nine-year-old Army veteran, as he healed from a destructive downward spiral in the grip of PTSD. Explore how Melinda, a forty-two-year-old professor who struggled to sustain a romantic relationship, confronted her torturous childhood and finally found love. These and other stories demonstrate the restorative power of Keep Pain in the Past.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633538115
Publisher:	Mango Media
Publication date:	01/01/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	218
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Christopher Cortman, PhD has been a licensed psychologist for 28 years. He is a much-sought-after speaker, has facilitated more than 60,000 hours of psychotherapy, and has provided psychological consultation at five hospitals in the Sarasota/Venice area. Dr. Cortman is the co-creator of a youth prevention and wellness program called The Social Black Belt.Dr. Joseph Walden graduated from Florida State University with his Bachelor’s degree in psychology and graduated with his Doctorate of Psychology from the Florida School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Walden has a wide variety of experiences including working in a crisis center and an inpatient drug and alcohol center in Bradenton, a college counseling center in and the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg, and Park Center, a community mental health hospital, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dr. Walden has worked with children, families, adults, and the geriatric populations in individual and group therapy. He offers treatment for anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, interpersonal skills, phobias, and stress management. "I am personally and professionally invested in the treatment of the military population. My father was an Army veteran and was the one who originally sparked my interest in the treatment of trauma. While on practicum at the Bay Pines VAMC, I worked in the Substance and Posttraumatic Integrated Recovery (SPIR) unit where I worked with veterans who were dually diagnosed with an alcohol/drug addiction and PTSD. There I spent time completing trauma-specific training for my entire tenure there. I also completed my dissertation using an empirical study regarding differences in PTSD symptom expression across war era involvement."

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Treating Trauma; What If We Already Have the Answers We Need to Heal? 8

Chapter 2 Trauma Destroys the Soul Thanks to Mr. Avoidance 37

Chapter 3 Remember: Tell the Tale in Detail 52

Chapter 4 Feel: No Feel, No Heal 68

Chapter 5 Express: Let the Water Flow 76

Chapter 6 Release: Release for Peace 98

Chapter 7 Reframe: Reclaim Your Life 113

Chapter 8 Moral injury: What If You Really Are Guilty? 131

Chapter 9 Complex PTSD: When the Trauma Happened Again and Again 157

Chapter 10 Jim Meets Fritz 176

Chapter 11 Finishing Your Unfinished Business 191

Chapter 12 Out of the Traumatic Past and Into a Better Future 199

References 204

Appendix 1 210

References: Appendix 1 214

Appendix 2 215

References: Appendix 2 237

Acknowledgments 239

About the Authors 242

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This book offers real stories and a path to authentic emotional healing for people recovering from past hurts and traumatic events. Written with hope and compassion the authors guide the reader through an actionable stepwise process of gaining their life back after traumatic experiences and keeping the emotional pain in the past—for good! "
—Helen Odessky, Psy. D. Author of Stop Anxiety From Stopping You

“Milliions of peple suffer from PTSD which can dramatically impact their lives. The self-healing process mapped out in Keep Pain in the Past is based on decades of successful treatment of patients and offers help and hope to those who need it. WIth this remarkable remedy, readers can go from surviving to thriving.”
-Dr John Duffy, author of The Available Parent, Podcasts at WGN"s Better

Keep Pain in the Past is a well thought out tome of helpful, step-by-step tools for healing from physical and emotional trauma. Authors Cortman and Waldman present questions for the reader to ask oneself at the end of each chapter, and provide suggestions that are sensible and real for one to step out of PTSD and to step up to his or her brighter future.
~KJ Landis, author of Happy Healthy You

Individuals suffering from drug and alcohol or other addictions, anxiety, depression, resentment, and compulsive behavior, as well as those having difficulty moving on from bad experiences can greatly benefit from the knowledge and practical exercises in this book.”
―Calvina Fay, executive director, Drug Free America Foundation, inc.

“.A definite read and has helped me tremendously! Grip it and read it!”
―John Daly, PGA golfer

“Time may not heal all wounds, but a powerful process can. I'm so grateful to the authors of Keep Pain in the Past for restoring hope that trauma can be healed without year of psychotherapy. Each wounded heart is longing to be whole again. This book is the perfect companion for that journey.” ―MK Mueller, author of 8 to Great

“The work Dr. Chris Cortman is doing in the field of trauma recovery is some of the most important work being done today. In Keep Pain in the Past he shares the compelling stories of people he has helped using a simple (but not easy) five-step framework. Through these stories, helpful writing prompts, and other detailed tools and resources, readers see what is actually possible in regards to recovering from trauma (whether with a capital T or a small t), and can begin to attend to their own recovery. I am looking forward to employing "The Fritz" in my own ongoing personal work!” ―Karen C.L. Anderson, author of Difficult Mothers, Adult Daughters: A Guide For Separation, Liberation & Inspiration