somerandomguy
VIP Member
Here's my review of "Journey Through Trauma: A Trail Guide to the 5-Phase Cycle of Healing Repeated Trauma" by Gretchen L. Schmelzer, PhD (2018, Avery, 9780735216839, US Edition).
Apparently Dr. Schmelzer is a superstar in some healing communities, but I'd never heard of her before I ran across this book at the library. I was very quickly sold on her sensitive, gentle writing style, filled with parables and examples, and was easily able to identify events, feelings, and mindsets that I had already experienced and am actually experiencing right now.
This is not a self-help or a how-to book. Instead, it is a companion volume that Dr. Schmelzer means you to consult as you heal from repetitive trauma with the assistance of a therapist (or group, friend, or what have you). She is very clear that healing trauma is not a journey you should take on your own. This book describes and explains what you are likely to encounter in each phase of your healing. However, she explains the 5 phases as she describes them rarely happen in a linear fashion - some parts of you may be on the Unintegration phase, others may be in the Identification pahse, and so on. The phases may repeat themselves many times.
The 5 phases as Dr. Scmelzer describes them are:
1. Preparation - The work before the work: creating trust and safety
2. Unintegration - Intentional and supported coming apart e.g. dismantling defenses
3. Identification - Examination and sorting of one's trauma experiences
4. Integration - Seeing the whole picture of yourself and becoming a new, whole person
5. Consolidation - Getting ready for Preparation again
Each section of the book covers one phase. Chapters within each section are short, so they are easy to get through and easy to put down if you've had enough for the time being. The language is clear and not excessively clinical. Examples and explanations abound. The first sections, being more difficult, are longer and more detailed than the later sections.
It is possible that I liked this book so much because I am finally in an appropriate place to read and understand what she's talking about. On the other hand, maybe it's just a really good book! It's probably both. I think excerpts of the book are available for free on Dr. Schmelzer's website, so if you're not sure if this book would assist you, you can try it out there.
I give this book five donuts out of five.
Apparently Dr. Schmelzer is a superstar in some healing communities, but I'd never heard of her before I ran across this book at the library. I was very quickly sold on her sensitive, gentle writing style, filled with parables and examples, and was easily able to identify events, feelings, and mindsets that I had already experienced and am actually experiencing right now.
This is not a self-help or a how-to book. Instead, it is a companion volume that Dr. Schmelzer means you to consult as you heal from repetitive trauma with the assistance of a therapist (or group, friend, or what have you). She is very clear that healing trauma is not a journey you should take on your own. This book describes and explains what you are likely to encounter in each phase of your healing. However, she explains the 5 phases as she describes them rarely happen in a linear fashion - some parts of you may be on the Unintegration phase, others may be in the Identification pahse, and so on. The phases may repeat themselves many times.
The 5 phases as Dr. Scmelzer describes them are:
1. Preparation - The work before the work: creating trust and safety
2. Unintegration - Intentional and supported coming apart e.g. dismantling defenses
3. Identification - Examination and sorting of one's trauma experiences
4. Integration - Seeing the whole picture of yourself and becoming a new, whole person
5. Consolidation - Getting ready for Preparation again
Each section of the book covers one phase. Chapters within each section are short, so they are easy to get through and easy to put down if you've had enough for the time being. The language is clear and not excessively clinical. Examples and explanations abound. The first sections, being more difficult, are longer and more detailed than the later sections.
It is possible that I liked this book so much because I am finally in an appropriate place to read and understand what she's talking about. On the other hand, maybe it's just a really good book! It's probably both. I think excerpts of the book are available for free on Dr. Schmelzer's website, so if you're not sure if this book would assist you, you can try it out there.
I give this book five donuts out of five.
