What It Takes to Thrive

Techniques for Severe Trauma and Stress Recovery

This book deals with all aspects of severe trauma and stress recovery. It offers tools and techniques to manage triggers, flashbacks or intrusive thoughts, helping survivors of severe trauma and stress to regain control of their lives.

The techniques and advice described here are organised into six sections: Triggers; Flashbacks; Unwelcome Thoughts; Dealing with the Lows; Disturbed Sleep; and Living Life to the Full: Meaning and Purpose in Life. Readers can refer to each section and experiment with methods that work best for them.

This is a useful guide for survivors of severe trauma and stress, psychotherapists, social workers, counsellors, welfare workers and volunteers in the field.

Contents:

• Dedication

• Disclaimer

• The Book's Purpose

• Introduction

• How to Use This Handbook

• The Term "Survivor"

• Acknowledgements

• About the Author

• Dealing with "Triggers"

• How to Deal with Flashbacks

• How to Deal with Unwelcome Thoughts

• Dealing with "The Lows"

• Dealing with Sleep Disturbance

• Living Life to the Full (or, as Full as Possible)

• Appendices:

  • Reassuring Things for Survivors to Know
  • What Survivors Have Found to be Helpful in This Work
  • Helpful Questions and Statements from the Worker
  • The Three Stages: Victim –Survivor–Thriver (Living Life to the Full, or as Full as Possible)
  • Blocks to Disclosing
  • How to Avoid Retraumatisation and Revictimisation
  • Benefits of Doing This Important Work
  • Two-Day Solution-Focused Workshops on Working with Severe Trauma and Stress
  • Supporting Research Evidence for Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

• Bibliography

• Index

Readership: Psychotherapists, counsellors, welfare and social workers, volunteers in social and welfare work, and survivors of trauma and abuse.
Key Features:

• Offers practical advice on managing issues related to severe trauma and stress
• Techniques and advice are organised into six sections for easy reference: Triggers; Flashbacks; Unwelcome Thoughts; Dealing with the Lows; Disturbed Sleep; and Living Life to the Full: Meaning and Purpose in Life