Trauma and Attachment

Sarah Benamer trained as an attachment based psychoanalytic psychotherapist with the Centre for Attachment-based Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (CAPP), now The Bowlby Centre, where she is a tutor, teacher, approved supervisor and training therapist, and member of the clinical training committee. She works as a relational psychotherapist in private practice. Prior to training as a psychotherapist she worked as an independent advocate with those in crisis in the National Health Service (NHS) psychiatric system and with individuals in chronic pain, with long term illness and severe physical disabilities. Kate White is a training therapist, supervisor and teacher at The Bowlby Centre. Formerly senior lecturer at South Bank University in the Department of Nursing and Community Health Studies, she has used her extensive experience in adult education to contribute to the innovative psychotherapy curriculum developed at The Bowlby Centre. In addition to working as an individual psychotherapist, Kate runs workshops on the themes of attachment and trauma in clinical practice.

'This monograph contains a rich variety of material that is not usually included in traditional writings on trauma. In addition to the theoretical and clinical perspectives, poetry and storytelling join in to weave a vivid tapestry of multifaceted approaches to trauma. Whilst remaining true to its theoretical base (which, of course, is Bowlby's attachment theory), the monograph succeeds in locating its subject matter in wider perspectives, thus enabling the reader to appreciate the complexity of contributing factors. It is not easy to compile a single publication out of a conference; yet, this monograph achieves its objective by offering a coherent treatment of trauma that also includes some up-to-date approaches and innovations. The papers are written with authority, clarity and sensitivity and will provide the reader with a most beneficial elaboration of trauma from an attachment theory perspective.'- Renos K. Papadopoulos'Trauma and Attachment engages its subject with both heart and intellect. In Gillian Slovo's moving description of her courtroom encounters with the men who murdered her mother, or in Chris Purnell's insightful memoir of growing up in a children's home, we confront the experience of trauma at its most immediate. In Bessel van der Kolk's innovative formulation, we come closer to understanding the impact of prolonged, repeated trauma on the developing child. This volume adds to the growing literature that documents the central role of disrupted attachment in most traumatic disorders.'- Judith L. Herman, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

• ContentsContributorsAcknowledgmentsTrauma and Attachment: Introduction: Sarah Benamer and Kate WhiteATTACHMENT THEORY AND THE JOHN BOWLBY MEMORIAL LECTURE 2006: A SHORT HISTORY: Bernice LaschingerTRUTH AND RECONCILIATION? Gillian SlovoSURVIVING THE CARE SYSTEM: Chris PurnellDEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA DISORDER: Bessel van der KolkDEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA IN ADULTS: Felicity de ZuluetaTHE HUNGRY SELF: Sue RichardsonTHE SHADOW OF MURDER: Rachel WingfieldHOW DO WE HELP OURSELVES?: Valerie SinasonTRAUMA AND ATTACHMENT READING LIST