Coping with Trauma: A Guide to Self-understanding

Traumatic experience is alarmingly prevalent; few people escape its direct or indirect effects. Dr. Allen, Senior Staff Psychologist with the Trauma Recovery Program at The Menninger Clinic, has written this book to help laypersons understand the complex and often bewildering impact of traumatic experience. "Coping With Trauma: A Guide to Self-Understanding" provides a comprehensive yet highly readable summary of current professional knowledge for people of diverse backgrounds and education.

Based on an extensive review of contemporary professional literature, "Coping With Trauma" incorporates the author's experience conducting educational groups for patients with a history of severe trauma. In teaching these groups, Dr. Allen learns from his patients, who have generously and openly shared their personal experiences. Their lessons form a vital part of this book.

Those who are struggling to cope with the direct effects of trauma will find "Coping With Trauma" to be an informative and sensitive guide to better understanding themselves and their experience. Partners and family members of traumatized individuals can gain increased understanding of and empathy for their loved ones, in addition to learning how to be more supportive. Mental health professionals who work with people with a history of trauma will find the book to be a useful digest of current knowledge that they can share with their patients.