Book recommendation

[NightSky]

I am a little less than halfway through Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivirs: Overcomibg Internal Self-Alienation by Janina Fisher and had to pop on here to tell you all what an amazing read it is so far. It is written for therapists and clients both, and so far has addressed a lot regarding therapy, which is why I’m posting in this thread. SO many of the topics I have seen discussed here are written about eloquently and compassionately in this book. Previously, The Body Keeps the Score was my “bible”- this one has surpassed it as far as how helpful and validating it is. I’m a huge Bessel fan, and this author worked with him, so she has been influenced by him. The book so far combines Internal Family Systems with Structural Dissociation (using parts slightly differently than traditional IFS in a way that seems much clearer to me) along with traumatic/disorganized attachment and its impact on therapy. That’s as far as I’ve gotten but I am highlighting whole pages as I read and thinking of many of you here!! :hug:

 

[EveHarrington]

Thanks for the feedback. It’s been sitting in my amazon cart for the last month!

Afraid to hit the go button as I’m learning IFST from another author and I’m avoiding learning from others as the changes in structure/vocabulary can be very confusing.

 

[NightSky]

I get that. I was reading a lot of IFS stuff and getting so frustrated that I can’t identify my parts. She talks about them calling them attach/fight/flight/submit etc and so it combines IFS with structural dissociation in a really easy way to understand. I don’t think it confuses IFS, but at least for me gives me a place to start concretely seeing that my attach part longs for proximity while my fight part is hypervigilant against hurt. Rather than exile and protector. It just makes more sense to me.

 

[UnicornSightings]

Thanks for the suggestion! I have The Body Keeps the Score and am always shocked when others have read it or understand the body holds emotions. Seems like most people don’t get that!

 

[NightSky]

I have The Body Keeps the Score on kindle, audio, and a paperback with about a thousand sticky flags and highlights. This one I only bought on kindle because for some reason it’s pricey. But eventually I will have it in hand as well because it will be a read very often type of book.

 

[EveHarrington]

Hmmm. Now I’m on the fence!

I stay away from structural dissociation stuff as on initial read it seemed at odds with IFST.

I like the exile/protector format as it really does explain what I’m experiencing. If I have to switch over to a fight/flight/etc system, I may get confused.

@Freida have you read this book?

 

[Deleted member 36028]

Just brought Body keeps the score and looking to become more informed in trauma especially cptsd and developmental. How far foes this book apply/reference to this and can anyone recommend further reading? I read Complex PTSD from surviving to thriving and it gave me some great starting points.