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Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors integrates a neurobiologically informed understanding of trauma, dissociation, and attachment with a practical approach to treatment, all communicated in straightforward language accessible to both client and therapist. Readers will be exposed to a model that emphasizes “resolution”—a transformation in the relationship to one’s self, replacing shame, self-loathing, and assumptions of guilt with compassionate acceptance. Its unique interventions have been adapted from a number of cutting-edge therapeutic approaches, including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, mindfulness-based therapies, and clinical hypnosis. Readers will close the pages of Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors with a solid grasp of therapeutic approaches to traumatic attachment, working with undiagnosed dissociative symptoms and disorders, integrating “right brain-to-right brain” treatment methods, and much more. Most of all, they will come away with tools for helping clients create an internal sense of safety and compassionate connection to even their most dis-owned selves.
63 reviews for Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Internal Self-Alienation
Rated 5 out of 5
Betty (verified owner)–
As a trauma survivor, and someone in recovery from DID, this book is proving to be so powerful for me. I have read very widely on trauma and have learned a little bit from many authors; but this book goes so much further because Fisher brings together understandings from neuroscience; together with learnings of Internal Family Systems Therapy, the Structural Dissociation model and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, in a way that it’s all so applicable to my daily life. Written in a very easy to read style, Fisher walks her talk making sure it’s as accessible to trauma survivors as therapists, ensuring that any technical concepts are explained in easy to understand language. It’s written with such compassion that Fisher’s compassion can’t help but rub off on us as we read!
This book makes sense of so much that never made sense to me before. I can at long last understand why the parts only hear “the bad stuff”; why the messages I’ve been trying to get through to them about how safe we are now have been falling on deaf ears. I understand why I ended up so destabilised each time I went into therapy in the past – despite well-meaning therapists, I can see that they simply lacked the understanding of what was going on in my brain and how to work with me without destabilising me. I finally get why it’s not about what happened to me so much as about what is continuing to go on inside of me. The book is an absolute wealth of information, and I’m going to have to read it over and over to take it all in – there are so many explanations for things that I thought weren’t explainable!
I’m living proof that the model that Fisher teaches really works. After giving up on going into therapy again, after too many attempts that just resulted in day to day life becoming unmanageable while in therapy, Fisher’s teachings inspired me to have another go. I found a therapist trained in IFS and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and even though it’s very early days I’m already starting to work with my parts in a way I’ve never been able to before. I feel better and more settled at the end of a therapy hour than the beginning, and I’m already better able to manage triggering. This model really works!
My wish is that every single trauma survivor looking for answers, and every single therapist, be able to read this gem of a book. I salute and truly appreciate Janina Fisher for her curiosity and desire to find ways to make therapy work for us severely traumatised folk, and for making her learnings and skills so accessible to so many via this book.
Rated 5 out of 5
Deirdre Fay (verified owner)–
Having been a student of Janina Fisher’s for many years now I can honestly say I have been waiting for her book for about the same length of time! Thankfully it’s now out for all of us to refer to and continue to learn from. Janina has a very readable style, taking this sometimes complicated subject and making it accessible and easy to apply. This book is grounded in clinical work, building on well established theory and practice. It’s an enormous contribution not only for therapists, but also for those people who want to make sense of their own inner worlds.
Rated 5 out of 5
P Dallacroce (verified owner)–
This book is simply brilliant. It provides the reader with an understanding of what structural dissociation looks, sounds, and feels like, as well as a method for healing it that works. Janina Fisher, as a writer, does what she does so well as a clinician and instructor. She gets through to both mind and body in a “felt sense” manner. After reading this book, you will have a “felt sense” understanding, not just an understanding of theory, and it will stick with you and enable you to apply it in practice. As a clinician, I have read many very helpful books about developmental trauma, but this book is exceptional.
Rated 5 out of 5
Kim (verified owner)–
This book is an act of triumph! It is an insightful integration of cutting edge trauma science, sensorimotor psychotherapy principles and internal family systems theory. Janina’s years of being mindfully present with people struggling with their traumatic past has allowed her to integrate these ideas with a certain poetic prose befitting the sacredness of the healing process. This book provides a framework for helping trauma survivors rise above their traumatic body memories to build a “healing story.” I highly recommend it. Thank you for writing this book Janina! Kim from Seattle
Rated 5 out of 5
Nancy Pearcey (verified owner)–
A lot of new research is currently being done on childhood trauma using MRIs to track brain patterns. Many distinct diagnoses are turning out to be results of childhood abuse. The most frequent result is dissociation, and this is the best book on the market on how to overcome it.
Rated 5 out of 5
Robyn Adelman (verified owner)–
I finished this book quickly, but keep finding myself continually re-reading parts of it. It is a wonderful reference for treating trauma.
Rated 5 out of 5
Laura (verified owner)–
As someone who is just starting on a journey into the struggles with structural dissociation, this book saved my life. This book explained what I am experiencing in a way I could understand. I just ate it up and learned so much. I recommend this book to anyone who is experiencing structural dissociation, anyone who is working with people with this condition and anyone who is studying trauma and psychotherapy. It is invaluable!
Rated 5 out of 5
Daniel Shaw (verified owner)–
Fisher’s achievement in this book is monumental and should be required reading for anyone working with trauma survivors. Few clinicians working with trauma are as able as Fisher to integrate research and theory into a brilliant, effective clinical approach that can be readily studied and applied by other clinicians, and at the same time be a guide for clients suffering from the effects of trauma as well. Fisher distills her vast knowledge and expertise in a way that makes every sentence of her book profoundly insightful. At the same time, she succeeds in making her book extremely practical and useful. She generously laces theory with poignant clinical examples that give a clear, usable picture of how and why she works the way she does. This is my always on hand, indispensable guidebook for my work with trauma survivors. Every clinician should give themselves the gift of reading and learning from Dr. Janina Fisher.
Rated 5 out of 5
sally (verified owner)–
This is truly a brilliant book. Janina is masterful in presenting and teaching complex concepts based on cutting edge treatment of trauma. Janina in her work over the years has developed a deeply insightful creative way to use the models, Internal Family Systems, Structural Dissociation and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Through mindfulness and skillful understanding of dissociation she has developed a way to work so deeply and effectively with complex trauma survivors. I highly recommend this book. Sally LoGrasso
Rated 5 out of 5
Alexina Baldini (verified owner)–
Excellent text with lovely examples of dialogue between therapist and client
Rated 5 out of 5
MFT, Mom, friend, (verified owner)–
This is a must-read for anyone who works with people.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jenn (verified owner)–
If I had to recommend one book on complex trauma, it would be this one over the books by Bessel van der Kolk, Pete Walker, Alice Miller, Peter Levine, Sebern Fisher, or Onno van der Hart. This book provides intuitive and empowering guidance for survivors on how to develop a new relationship with life, and more importantly, with themselves. Despite previous desires of being adopted/rescued, I have learned through the course of healing that therapists and others can shine the light for me, but ultimately I have to welcome the child parts home. Thank you Dr. Fisher for writing this beautiful book and for everything that you have done for trauma survivors. I will be reading this book again and again for the rest of my life.
Rated 5 out of 5
TrueReview (verified owner)–
The focus is on useful ideas presenting ways to integrate your memories and get on with your life. Having guidance about a method to deal without focusing on the trauma but on the emotions and behaviors caused by it is much more productive. And that is what you get with this book. Highly, highly recommended.
Rated 5 out of 5
Lotte (verified owner)–
Excellent book for someone who has a basic understanding of trauma. Certainly good for therapists of all backgrounds who want to be able to work with trauma using new skills based on science. Could be helpful for thoughtful survivors of trauma who are willing to look at themselves through new lenses.
Rated 5 out of 5
Kate (verified owner)–
As a psychiatrist/psychoanalyst and a trauma survivor, I have treated traumatized patients, been a traumatized patient, and read widely in the field. I think Janina Fisher brilliantly synthesizes the latest findings in trauma research and neurobiology and lays out a strategy for psychotherapy that takes into account all we know of trauma and abuse. The stories of her patients make the theory and practice come to life. She does not shy away from the difficult topics in this field like extremely self-destructive patients, and severe attachment trauma and how it disrupts the therapeutic relationship. She has a deep and compassionate understanding of trauma survivors. It should be required reading for all trauma therapists and trauma survivors.
Rated 4 out of 5
Earnestine Hay (verified owner)–
Participant’s stories
Rated 5 out of 5
Greg Keeler (verified owner)–
This is deep, readable and groundbreaking. It dispenses with blame and shows us what trauma does to our bodies and minds and how we can deal with it.
Rated 5 out of 5
K6 (verified owner)–
Totally life-changing! The author explains how to work with your parts in a clear, easy-to-follow way. I was always phobic of my parts before, but this book helped me develop empathy and understanding, and learn how to communicate with them. I have healed so much through reading this book!
Rated 5 out of 5
Lisa M. Foti (verified owner)–
Janina is a blessing to the psychological community and clients as she gently teaches her approach. Lots of research and data sited.
Rated 5 out of 5
loly (verified owner)–
This is an excellent read for anyone in the field, highly recommend.
Rated 5 out of 5
Marcella R. Zappia (verified owner)–
This book is a must read for anyone wanting understand trauma and interrelated to the different parts of ourselves. Also, how the wrong clinician can hinder recovery of an individual. It has been an invaluable tool for my recovery and working within a group of others suffering from family of origin trauma and abuse.
Rated 5 out of 5
Soccermom (verified owner)–
Enjoyed this book, very relevant.
Rated 5 out of 5
Morgan (verified owner)–
Next to my Bible, this book is the most fantastic resource I have come across for understanding life pain and human dysfunction. Ms. Fisher does not write from a religious perspective. She is a highly trained and experienced clinician with extensive professional experience in deeply understanding and working with individuals who have suffered from and have been debilitated by traumatic life events, whether in childhood or as an adult. (Most of us have experienced, or will experience, trauma in life … or we know those who have). Ms. Fisher is the quintessence of enlightened compassion towards those who have experienced trauma. She “gets” what you have experienced, how it has impacted you, and how you react to the damage in ways you don’t even understand. She provides a very hopeful, tangible roadmap for overcoming internal self-alienation and the mystifying self-defeating behavioral dysfunction that occasions the trauma survivor, and she provides an informed and believable and actionable conceptual and theoretical framework for how to return to one’s resilient, normal self and re-enter one’s productive life with much greater compassion for self and others. In my opinion, every human being on the planet would greatly benefit from reading and understanding the concepts Ms. Fisher brilliantly lays out for us in this excellent book. I give it my highest recommendation.
Rated 5 out of 5
ABart (verified owner)–
This book contains some of the most current information regarding treatment of trauma. Hats off to Janina Fisher! She really knows her stuff!!
Rated 4 out of 5
Damion Pegg (verified owner)–
helps me calm myself.. and stay grounded
Rated 5 out of 5
Karen G. (verified owner)–
The sine qua non for understanding, treating and healing from trauma.
Rated 5 out of 5
Nick L (verified owner)–
Can’t say enough. Every line is highlighted!
Rated 5 out of 5
Rick and Ashly (verified owner)–
This is a fantastic resource and compilation of many great minds on survival of trauma and control. There are not a lot of “this is Meg’s case” instances which makes it even more valuable as a reference tool. It sticks to the facts and theories surrounding topics of trauma and moving forward successfully from it.
Rated 5 out of 5
Al Carman (verified owner)–
I’m reading this during my treatment in a residential mental health facility and I’m glad I’m doing so under supervision. Some of the content is difficult to get through, as it really pushes my buttons (re: my trauma history). I’m taking it slow (intentionally) and everything has hit the nail on the head—really helps explain why I react certain ways.
Rated 4 out of 5
Jamison (verified owner)–
Recommend by my therapist. If you are DID it’s intense reading—but insightful.
Rated 5 out of 5
Dr.rodikhar (verified owner)–
Difficult material, though highly informative and helpful
Rated 5 out of 5
Elisa Calleiro (verified owner)–
Already helping me address things I never thought I’d have answers or info to help with
Rated 5 out of 5
Kidonia Mavromatis (verified owner)–
Very informative and up to date information; definitely a must read for those working with DID. Extremely helpful in rethinking the ‘trauma narrative’ and clearly shares the wisdom of years of actual experience. Glad I bought this.
Rated 5 out of 5
Madan Family (verified owner)–
Super informative. Best trauma book I have read on explaining dissociation and how to heal.
Rated 5 out of 5
IM (verified owner)–
Amazing
Rated 5 out of 5
Kcherry (verified owner)–
Incredible book! This is one that I will be reading and re-reading for a long time! So helpful.
Rated 5 out of 5
Kwisak (verified owner)–
Awesome book with lots of good info
Rated 5 out of 5
Lisa (verified owner)–
I think this is a good book. Has needed information in it and is helpful in explaining DID and has helpful exercises to help the patient make sense of and encourage internal communication. It is however a little difficult to read through if you have difficulty concentrating or are rapid switching.
Rated 5 out of 5
Candis (verified owner)–
Excellent book, esp for practioners!!
Rated 5 out of 5
Kathy in Decatur, GA (verified owner)–
This is the absolute best book I have found on trying to heal from dissociative identity disorder. It is geared toward practitioners and clients both. It is also geared mostly toward people who have complex trauma histories and don’t have the same inner world as someone with DID. However, I felt like much of what is written for non-DID folks, I felt like I could apply to my system of DID parts. When I started reading this book I was able to apply some really important concepts and was able to become much more stable in two weeks time. Unfortunately, my therapist was not as interested in becoming an expert on this particular methodology as she has already studied so many other similar models. So, if you have DID, it may be a little harder to do this on your own, at least that is how I felt. I made great progress, but would have loved to have made more, but there were just some quandaries unique to DID that I would have loved to have help exploring if more was offered in the book for those with DID. I so wish this author would write a new book directed specifically to those with DID because there are few practitioners who really understand it as deeply as this author does. This book is definitely worth reading if you are motivated to get better and change your way of thinking. I imagine it is also great for practitioners to help their clients.
Rated 5 out of 5
kristen lauren (verified owner)–
Heavy duty but game changer !
Rated 5 out of 5
JimboJones (verified owner)–
Certainly an academic-style book, but oozing with vital information, painting a new picture of how a trauma survivor can compassionately heal our own traumatized parts, and move past the implicit/body memories that allowed us to survive childhood trauma, but that keep us responding to new triggers using old fight/flight responses. Absolutely brilliant.
Rated 5 out of 5
Steve George (verified owner)–
to chris further down: i think you misread or misunderstood what the book is saying. in no way does it suggest anywhere to leave clients to figure things out by themselves.
it is actually a brilliant and VERY lucid roadmap for the work — integrating an enormous amount of knowledge, research and experience. i cannot recommend it highly enough. as for dr. fisher herself — in my experience of her as a trainer she is warm, responsive, attuned, undogmatic and available. she is also extremely knowledgeable and experienced. no doubt she is no different as a clinician. i highly recommend this book to anyone interested in trauma work.
Rated 4 out of 5
Lisa (verified owner)–
Very informative! I would say it’s got more of a textbook read so if you’ve not got a background of studying counselling or trauma it might be a bit of a battle to read. Body Keeps the Score is a great one to read before this.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sauce (verified owner)–
Wow! This is a really interesting read that provides a new perspective for me. Although the concept is abstract, I felt it was easily understandable. As writing can differ from real-life situations, I’m still curious how this would look in practice.
Rated 5 out of 5
Annie (verified owner)–
Brilliant! Wish I had read this 20 years ago!
Rated 5 out of 5
S.R. Merlin (verified owner)–
Fisher is well versed on n DID. I have learned volumes from her CCTP II class. This book is a great adjunct to her classes.
Rated 5 out of 5
Kindle Customer (verified owner)–
This book is life changing. Powerful, triggering… It took months for me to read it, but I’m forever changed now that I have read it. Thanks to the author for such intimate illustrations of how to help achieve secure attachment.
Rated 5 out of 5
Lavon Clark (verified owner)–
Great book!
Rated 5 out of 5
William M (verified owner)–
I cannot recommend this book enough. For any therapists working with clients who have traumatic pasts or dissociative disorders like DID, OSDD type1 or BPD this book is extremely thorough and informative. For people who are working through these issues, this books is very validating and helpful in pathworking and parts therapy. Excellent work!
Rated 5 out of 5
Guest Customer (verified owner)–
Awesome, life changing if you’ve been suffering in crazy ways and not know what’s up. Childhood abuse over a long time with no way out causes your brain to do its very best to do what it can do you will survive but it pays a price and you have no clue except the pain and struggle you live with. Therapists don’t help because it’s too difficult and complex to understand and it requires them to not use the regular talk therapy that’s been used since the beginning. This work has crossed over into a very helpful realm that is like watching someone label my life’s journey with cause and effect explanations that I absolutely recognize as truth. What a relief.
Rated 5 out of 5
Chayala S. (verified owner)–
I’m so sorry if you went through any trauma. This book is so essential for any trauma you’ve been through. It gives you an understanding. You see that you’re normal and good. It gives you realistic hope. You can heal , no matter how deep you’ve been hurt. I wish you all a complete and deep healing, the world needs you, and the world needs more people like you!!
Rated 5 out of 5
Anna LeBaron<span class="a-icon a-profile-verified-badge"><span class="a-profile-verified-text"></span></span> (verified owner)–
Great resource for anyone who has experienced trauma.
Rated 5 out of 5
Mariedtiger (verified owner)–
This book was life changing for me. The structured writing, the compassionate tone and the way the lived experience of someone experiencing inner alienation became articulated and tangible in this book was immensely helpful. It took a scary experience, normalized it for a trauma survivor and gave the reader ways to cope and understand themselves better.
Rated 4 out of 5
Kate (verified owner)–
Love the content of the book. But the font is so small it’s giving me a headache as I read.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jessie A (verified owner)–
The top comment on the back states: “…how to treat clients that many deem hopeless …”. Sue Johnson, PhD. As one of those clients, I felt very saddened and insulted by this. I get that Dr. Johnson is not alleging that these clients are hopeless but it made me feel bad about my treatment.
Rated 5 out of 5
Tessa (verified owner)–
Throws so much light on why we do what we do.
Rated 5 out of 5
Miranda Solveig (verified owner)–
I will first say that my psychologist and I both picked up copies of this book, as well as the authors workbook, to wok on together for my Complex PTSD. My psychologist has been viewing virtual/pre-recorded lectures on the subject of C-PTSD and was already impressed and have been incorporating the authors lessons in our sessions. I just received this book recently and have found that book is very easy to read, described things very thoroughly and, at least in my case, has been speaking to exactly what I am going through with my Complext PTSD, Depression and Anxiety Disorders and the way that I have been dealing with trauma and these diagnoses through the past 4+ decades. I have yet to complete the book, but already find myself comfortable. It seems to be addressing things we have already been doing in my sessions, but we have a feeling that it may help fill in the gaps or give us a better nudge in the right direction and keep us more focused.
Rated 5 out of 5
T. Spark (verified owner)–
While I’d find it hard to implement all she suggests it really is a very accessible illuminating volume. Thank you.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jacqueline A. (verified owner)–
Dr Fisher presents a clear and concise approach to healing the fragmented survivors of trauma. She is an expert in this field, and as a therapist, I find her book extremely helpful.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sven_der_Vikinger (verified owner)–
On-time and good condition
Rated 5 out of 5
hlelsh (verified owner)–
I love it
Rated 5 out of 5
kat.strauch (verified owner)–
Everyone has some kind of trauma that was difficult in their life. We shut the door on that time in our life as protection. But once the threat passes, we may still have struggles from time to time that we can’t explain. This book explains it in a way that is neither condescending nor too literal. It therapist to patient/ therapist to therapist in a clear concise format that helps all those wishing to become their best and most complete self. This book has helped me so much.
Betty (verified owner) –
As a trauma survivor, and someone in recovery from DID, this book is proving to be so powerful for me. I have read very widely on trauma and have learned a little bit from many authors; but this book goes so much further because Fisher brings together understandings from neuroscience; together with learnings of Internal Family Systems Therapy, the Structural Dissociation model and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, in a way that it’s all so applicable to my daily life. Written in a very easy to read style, Fisher walks her talk making sure it’s as accessible to trauma survivors as therapists, ensuring that any technical concepts are explained in easy to understand language. It’s written with such compassion that Fisher’s compassion can’t help but rub off on us as we read!
This book makes sense of so much that never made sense to me before. I can at long last understand why the parts only hear “the bad stuff”; why the messages I’ve been trying to get through to them about how safe we are now have been falling on deaf ears. I understand why I ended up so destabilised each time I went into therapy in the past – despite well-meaning therapists, I can see that they simply lacked the understanding of what was going on in my brain and how to work with me without destabilising me. I finally get why it’s not about what happened to me so much as about what is continuing to go on inside of me. The book is an absolute wealth of information, and I’m going to have to read it over and over to take it all in – there are so many explanations for things that I thought weren’t explainable!
I’m living proof that the model that Fisher teaches really works. After giving up on going into therapy again, after too many attempts that just resulted in day to day life becoming unmanageable while in therapy, Fisher’s teachings inspired me to have another go. I found a therapist trained in IFS and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and even though it’s very early days I’m already starting to work with my parts in a way I’ve never been able to before. I feel better and more settled at the end of a therapy hour than the beginning, and I’m already better able to manage triggering. This model really works!
My wish is that every single trauma survivor looking for answers, and every single therapist, be able to read this gem of a book. I salute and truly appreciate Janina Fisher for her curiosity and desire to find ways to make therapy work for us severely traumatised folk, and for making her learnings and skills so accessible to so many via this book.
Deirdre Fay (verified owner) –
Having been a student of Janina Fisher’s for many years now I can honestly say I have been waiting for her book for about the same length of time! Thankfully it’s now out for all of us to refer to and continue to learn from. Janina has a very readable style, taking this sometimes complicated subject and making it accessible and easy to apply. This book is grounded in clinical work, building on well established theory and practice. It’s an enormous contribution not only for therapists, but also for those people who want to make sense of their own inner worlds.
P Dallacroce (verified owner) –
This book is simply brilliant. It provides the reader with an understanding of what structural dissociation looks, sounds, and feels like, as well as a method for healing it that works. Janina Fisher, as a writer, does what she does so well as a clinician and instructor. She gets through to both mind and body in a “felt sense” manner. After reading this book, you will have a “felt sense” understanding, not just an understanding of theory, and it will stick with you and enable you to apply it in practice. As a clinician, I have read many very helpful books about developmental trauma, but this book is exceptional.
Kim (verified owner) –
This book is an act of triumph! It is an insightful integration of cutting edge trauma science, sensorimotor psychotherapy principles and internal family systems theory. Janina’s years of being mindfully present with people struggling with their traumatic past has allowed her to integrate these ideas with a certain poetic prose befitting the sacredness of the healing process. This book provides a framework for helping trauma survivors rise above their traumatic body memories to build a “healing story.” I highly recommend it. Thank you for writing this book Janina!
Kim from Seattle
Nancy Pearcey (verified owner) –
A lot of new research is currently being done on childhood trauma using MRIs to track brain patterns. Many distinct diagnoses are turning out to be results of childhood abuse. The most frequent result is dissociation, and this is the best book on the market on how to overcome it.
Robyn Adelman (verified owner) –
I finished this book quickly, but keep finding myself continually re-reading parts of it. It is a wonderful reference for treating trauma.
Laura (verified owner) –
As someone who is just starting on a journey into the struggles with structural dissociation, this book saved my life. This book explained what I am experiencing in a way I could understand. I just ate it up and learned so much. I recommend this book to anyone who is experiencing structural dissociation, anyone who is working with people with this condition and anyone who is studying trauma and psychotherapy. It is invaluable!
Daniel Shaw (verified owner) –
Fisher’s achievement in this book is monumental and should be required reading for anyone working with trauma survivors. Few clinicians working with trauma are as able as Fisher to integrate research and theory into a brilliant, effective clinical approach that can be readily studied and applied by other clinicians, and at the same time be a guide for clients suffering from the effects of trauma as well. Fisher distills her vast knowledge and expertise in a way that makes every sentence of her book profoundly insightful. At the same time, she succeeds in making her book extremely practical and useful. She generously laces theory with poignant clinical examples that give a clear, usable picture of how and why she works the way she does. This is my always on hand, indispensable guidebook for my work with trauma survivors. Every clinician should give themselves the gift of reading and learning from Dr. Janina Fisher.
sally (verified owner) –
This is truly a brilliant book.
Janina is masterful in presenting and teaching complex concepts based on cutting edge treatment of trauma.
Janina in her work over the years has developed a deeply insightful creative way to use the models, Internal Family Systems, Structural Dissociation and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Through mindfulness and skillful understanding of dissociation she has developed a way to work so deeply and effectively with complex trauma survivors.
I highly recommend this book.
Sally LoGrasso
Alexina Baldini (verified owner) –
Excellent text with lovely examples of dialogue between therapist and client
MFT, Mom, friend, (verified owner) –
This is a must-read for anyone who works with people.
Jenn (verified owner) –
If I had to recommend one book on complex trauma, it would be this one over the books by Bessel van der Kolk, Pete Walker, Alice Miller, Peter Levine, Sebern Fisher, or Onno van der Hart. This book provides intuitive and empowering guidance for survivors on how to develop a new relationship with life, and more importantly, with themselves. Despite previous desires of being adopted/rescued, I have learned through the course of healing that therapists and others can shine the light for me, but ultimately I have to welcome the child parts home. Thank you Dr. Fisher for writing this beautiful book and for everything that you have done for trauma survivors. I will be reading this book again and again for the rest of my life.
TrueReview (verified owner) –
The focus is on useful ideas presenting ways to integrate your memories and get on with your life. Having guidance about a method to deal without focusing on the trauma but on the emotions and behaviors caused by it is much more productive. And that is what you get with this book. Highly, highly recommended.
Lotte (verified owner) –
Excellent book for someone who has a basic understanding of trauma. Certainly good for therapists of all backgrounds who want to be able to work with trauma using new skills based on science. Could be helpful for thoughtful survivors of trauma who are willing to look at themselves through new lenses.
Kate (verified owner) –
As a psychiatrist/psychoanalyst and a trauma survivor, I have treated traumatized patients, been a traumatized patient, and read widely in the field. I think Janina Fisher brilliantly synthesizes the latest findings in trauma research and neurobiology and lays out a strategy for psychotherapy that takes into account all we know of trauma and abuse. The stories of her patients make the theory and practice come to life. She does not shy away from the difficult topics in this field like extremely self-destructive patients, and severe attachment trauma and how it disrupts the therapeutic relationship. She has a deep and compassionate understanding of trauma survivors. It should be required reading for all trauma therapists and trauma survivors.
Earnestine Hay (verified owner) –
Participant’s stories
Greg Keeler (verified owner) –
This is deep, readable and groundbreaking. It dispenses with blame and shows us what trauma does to our bodies and minds and how we can deal with it.
K6 (verified owner) –
Totally life-changing! The author explains how to work with your parts in a clear, easy-to-follow way. I was always phobic of my parts before, but this book helped me develop empathy and understanding, and learn how to communicate with them. I have healed so much through reading this book!
Lisa M. Foti (verified owner) –
Janina is a blessing to the psychological community and clients as she gently teaches her approach. Lots of research and data sited.
loly (verified owner) –
This is an excellent read for anyone in the field, highly recommend.
Marcella R. Zappia (verified owner) –
This book is a must read for anyone wanting understand trauma and interrelated to the different parts of ourselves. Also, how the wrong clinician can hinder recovery of an individual. It has been an invaluable tool for my recovery and working within a group of others suffering from family of origin trauma and abuse.
Soccermom (verified owner) –
Enjoyed this book, very relevant.
Morgan (verified owner) –
Next to my Bible, this book is the most fantastic resource I have come across for understanding life pain and human dysfunction. Ms. Fisher does not write from a religious perspective. She is a highly trained and experienced clinician with extensive professional experience in deeply understanding and working with individuals who have suffered from and have been debilitated by traumatic life events, whether in childhood or as an adult. (Most of us have experienced, or will experience, trauma in life … or we know those who have). Ms. Fisher is the quintessence of enlightened compassion towards those who have experienced trauma. She “gets” what you have experienced, how it has impacted you, and how you react to the damage in ways you don’t even understand. She provides a very hopeful, tangible roadmap for overcoming internal self-alienation and the mystifying self-defeating behavioral dysfunction that occasions the trauma survivor, and she provides an informed and believable and actionable conceptual and theoretical framework for how to return to one’s resilient, normal self and re-enter one’s productive life with much greater compassion for self and others. In my opinion, every human being on the planet would greatly benefit from reading and understanding the concepts Ms. Fisher brilliantly lays out for us in this excellent book. I give it my highest recommendation.
ABart (verified owner) –
This book contains some of the most current information regarding treatment of trauma. Hats off to Janina Fisher! She really knows her stuff!!
Damion Pegg (verified owner) –
helps me calm myself.. and stay grounded
Karen G. (verified owner) –
The sine qua non for understanding, treating and healing from trauma.
Nick L (verified owner) –
Can’t say enough. Every line is highlighted!
Rick and Ashly (verified owner) –
This is a fantastic resource and compilation of many great minds on survival of trauma and control. There are not a lot of “this is Meg’s case” instances which makes it even more valuable as a reference tool. It sticks to the facts and theories surrounding topics of trauma and moving forward successfully from it.
Al Carman (verified owner) –
I’m reading this during my treatment in a residential mental health facility and I’m glad I’m doing so under supervision. Some of the content is difficult to get through, as it really pushes my buttons (re: my trauma history). I’m taking it slow (intentionally) and everything has hit the nail on the head—really helps explain why I react certain ways.
Jamison (verified owner) –
Recommend by my therapist. If you are DID it’s intense reading—but insightful.
Dr.rodikhar (verified owner) –
Difficult material, though highly informative and helpful
Elisa Calleiro (verified owner) –
Already helping me address things I never thought I’d have answers or info to help with
Kidonia Mavromatis (verified owner) –
Very informative and up to date information; definitely a must read for those working with DID. Extremely helpful in rethinking the ‘trauma narrative’ and clearly shares the wisdom of years of actual experience. Glad I bought this.
Madan Family (verified owner) –
Super informative. Best trauma book I have read on explaining dissociation and how to heal.
IM (verified owner) –
Amazing
Kcherry (verified owner) –
Incredible book! This is one that I will be reading and re-reading for a long time! So helpful.
Kwisak (verified owner) –
Awesome book with lots of good info
Lisa (verified owner) –
I think this is a good book. Has needed information in it and is helpful in explaining DID and has helpful exercises to help the patient make sense of and encourage internal communication. It is however a little difficult to read through if you have difficulty concentrating or are rapid switching.
Candis (verified owner) –
Excellent book, esp for practioners!!
Kathy in Decatur, GA (verified owner) –
This is the absolute best book I have found on trying to heal from dissociative identity disorder. It is geared toward practitioners and clients both.
It is also geared mostly toward people who have complex trauma histories and don’t have the same inner world as someone with DID. However, I felt like much of what is written for non-DID folks, I felt like I could apply to my system of DID parts. When I started reading this book I was able to apply some really important concepts and was able to become much more stable in two weeks time.
Unfortunately, my therapist was not as interested in becoming an expert on this particular methodology as she has already studied so many other similar models. So, if you have DID, it may be a little harder to do this on your own, at least that is how I felt. I made great progress, but would have loved to have made more, but there were just some quandaries unique to DID that I would have loved to have help exploring if more was offered in the book for those with DID.
I so wish this author would write a new book directed specifically to those with DID because there are few practitioners who really understand it as deeply as this author does.
This book is definitely worth reading if you are motivated to get better and change your way of thinking. I imagine it is also great for practitioners to help their clients.
kristen lauren (verified owner) –
Heavy duty but game changer !
JimboJones (verified owner) –
Certainly an academic-style book, but oozing with vital information, painting a new picture of how a trauma survivor can compassionately heal our own traumatized parts, and move past the implicit/body memories that allowed us to survive childhood trauma, but that keep us responding to new triggers using old fight/flight responses. Absolutely brilliant.
Steve George (verified owner) –
to chris further down: i think you misread or misunderstood what the book is saying. in no way does it suggest anywhere to leave clients to figure things out by themselves.
it is actually a brilliant and VERY lucid roadmap for the work — integrating an enormous amount of knowledge, research and experience. i cannot recommend it highly enough. as for dr. fisher herself — in my experience of her as a trainer she is warm, responsive, attuned, undogmatic and available. she is also extremely knowledgeable and experienced. no doubt she is no different as a clinician. i highly recommend this book to anyone interested in trauma work.
Lisa (verified owner) –
Very informative! I would say it’s got more of a textbook read so if you’ve not got a background of studying counselling or trauma it might be a bit of a battle to read. Body Keeps the Score is a great one to read before this.
Sauce (verified owner) –
Wow! This is a really interesting read that provides a new perspective for me. Although the concept is abstract, I felt it was easily understandable. As writing can differ from real-life situations, I’m still curious how this would look in practice.
Annie (verified owner) –
Brilliant! Wish I had read this 20 years ago!
S.R. Merlin (verified owner) –
Fisher is well versed on n DID. I have learned volumes from her CCTP II class. This book is a great adjunct to her classes.
Kindle Customer (verified owner) –
This book is life changing. Powerful, triggering… It took months for me to read it, but I’m forever changed now that I have read it. Thanks to the author for such intimate illustrations of how to help achieve secure attachment.
Lavon Clark (verified owner) –
Great book!
William M (verified owner) –
I cannot recommend this book enough. For any therapists working with clients who have traumatic pasts or dissociative disorders like DID, OSDD type1 or BPD this book is extremely thorough and informative. For people who are working through these issues, this books is very validating and helpful in pathworking and parts therapy. Excellent work!
Guest Customer (verified owner) –
Awesome, life changing if you’ve been suffering in crazy ways and not know what’s up. Childhood abuse over a long time with no way out causes your brain to do its very best to do what it can do you will survive but it pays a price and you have no clue except the pain and struggle you live with. Therapists don’t help because it’s too difficult and complex to understand and it requires them to not use the regular talk therapy that’s been used since the beginning. This work has crossed over into a very helpful realm that is like watching someone label my life’s journey with cause and effect explanations that I absolutely recognize as truth. What a relief.
Chayala S. (verified owner) –
I’m so sorry if you went through any trauma. This book is so essential for any trauma you’ve been through. It gives you an understanding. You see that you’re normal and good. It gives you realistic hope. You can heal , no matter how deep you’ve been hurt. I wish you all a complete and deep healing, the world needs you, and the world needs more people like you!!
Anna LeBaron<span class="a-icon a-profile-verified-badge"><span class="a-profile-verified-text"></span></span> (verified owner) –
Great resource for anyone who has experienced trauma.
Mariedtiger (verified owner) –
This book was life changing for me. The structured writing, the compassionate tone and the way the lived experience of someone experiencing inner alienation became articulated and tangible in this book was immensely helpful. It took a scary experience, normalized it for a trauma survivor and gave the reader ways to cope and understand themselves better.
Kate (verified owner) –
Love the content of the book. But the font is so small it’s giving me a headache as I read.
Jessie A (verified owner) –
The top comment on the back states:
“…how to treat clients that many deem hopeless …”. Sue Johnson, PhD.
As one of those clients, I felt very saddened and insulted by this. I get that Dr. Johnson is not alleging that these clients are hopeless but it made me feel bad about my treatment.
Tessa (verified owner) –
Throws so much light on why we do what we do.
Miranda Solveig (verified owner) –
I will first say that my psychologist and I both picked up copies of this book, as well as the authors workbook, to wok on together for my Complex PTSD. My psychologist has been viewing virtual/pre-recorded lectures on the subject of C-PTSD and was already impressed and have been incorporating the authors lessons in our sessions. I just received this book recently and have found that book is very easy to read, described things very thoroughly and, at least in my case, has been speaking to exactly what I am going through with my Complext PTSD, Depression and Anxiety Disorders and the way that I have been dealing with trauma and these diagnoses through the past 4+ decades. I have yet to complete the book, but already find myself comfortable. It seems to be addressing things we have already been doing in my sessions, but we have a feeling that it may help fill in the gaps or give us a better nudge in the right direction and keep us more focused.
T. Spark (verified owner) –
While I’d find it hard to implement all she suggests it really is a very accessible illuminating volume. Thank you.
Jacqueline A. (verified owner) –
Dr Fisher presents a clear and concise approach to healing the fragmented survivors of trauma. She is an expert in this field, and as a therapist, I find her book extremely helpful.
Sven_der_Vikinger (verified owner) –
On-time and good condition
hlelsh (verified owner) –
I love it
kat.strauch (verified owner) –
Everyone has some kind of trauma that was difficult in their life. We shut the door on that time in our life as protection. But once the threat passes, we may still have struggles from time to time that we can’t explain. This book explains it in a way that is neither condescending nor too literal. It therapist to patient/ therapist to therapist in a clear concise format that helps all those wishing to become their best and most complete self. This book has helped me so much.