For the past decade, author Tian Dayton has been researching trauma and
addiction, and how psychodrama (or sociometry group psychotherapy) can
be used in their treatment. Since trauma responses are stored in the
body, a method of therapy that engages the body through role play can be
more effective in accessing the full complement of trauma-related
memories.
This latest book identifies the interconnection of trauma and addictive
behavior, and shows why they can become an unending cycle. Emotional and
psychological pain so often lead to self-medicating, which leads to more
pain, and inevitably more self-medicating, and so on--ad infinitum. This
groundbreaking book offers readers effective ways to work through their
traumas in order to heal their addictions and their predilection toward
what clinicians call self-medicating (the abuse of substances
[alcohol, drugs, food], activities [work, sex, gambling, etc.]
and/or possessions [money, material things].) Readers caught up in the
endless cycle of trauma and addiction will permanently transform their
lives by reading this book.
Therapists treating patients for whom no other avenue of therapy has
proved effective will find that this book offers practical, lasting
solutions. Case studies and examples of this behavioral phenomenon will
illustrate the connection, helping readers understand its dynamics,
recognize their own situations and realize that they are not alone in
experiencing this syndrome. The author deftly combines the longstanding
trauma theories of Van der Kolk, Herman, Bowlby, Krystal and others with
her own experiential methods using psychodrama, sociometry and group
therapy in the treatment of addiction and posttraumatic stress disorder.
While designed to be useful to therapists, this book will also be
accessible to trade readers. It includes comprehensive references, as
well as a complete index.
