This book provides psychotherapists with a multidimensional view of childhood neglect and a practical roadmap for facilitating survivors’ healing.
Working from a strong base in attachment theory, esteemed clinician Ruth Cohn explores ways therapists can recognize the signs of childhood neglect, provides recommendations for understanding lasting effects that can persist into adulthood, and lays out strategies for helping clients maximize therapeutic outcomes. Along with extensive clinical material, chapters introduce skills that therapists can develop and hone, such as the ability to recognize and discern non-verbal attempts at communication. They also provide an array of resources and evidence-based treatment modalities that therapists can use in session.
Working with the Developmental Trauma of Childhood Neglect is an essential book for any mental health professional working with survivors of childhood trauma.
Ruth is phenomenal, and it shows in all her work. She has a deeply compassionate heart, a prodigious memory, and a dedication to her vocation that inspires her to seek out as much knowledge and research as she can. She prizes science-based information, never hearsay. She abhors blame, and encourages clients to move beyond blaming themselves or each other. She believes that we need not feel ashamed for the things we did (or sometimes still do) in order to survive. She believes that we are not responsible for what happened *to* us—we are only responsible for what we do today and tomorrow. She firmly believes that there's nothing an individual or couple can't work through as long as they keep trying. All of this and more comes through in her books—both this one and her previous, equally excellent book, *Coming Home to Passion.* Ruth is truly a lifesaver. I'm immeasurably grateful to her for all the ways she's helped me make my life better.
It is written in a very accessible manner for the layperson and clinician alike. It is informative without being pedantic, accessible without being too chatty, and most of all, it is deeply compassionate. The author draws upon decades of experience and paints a skillful picture of trauma, with clearly articulated strategies and tools for a clinician to work with this patient population. Each chapter grapples with a different topic could be read standalone, but the real strength of the book lies in how the content builds on itself. This is a real gem of a book - layperson and clinician alike will benefit from it!