Pauline Boss

Pauline Boss, the principal theorist of the concept of ambiguous loss, guides clinicians in the task of building resilience in clients who face the trauma of loss without resolution. Boss describes a concrete therapeutic approach that is at once directive and open to the complex contexts in which people find meaning and discover hope in the face of ambiguous losses. In Part I readers are introduced to the concept of ambiguous loss and shown how such losses relate to concepts of the family, definitions of trauma, and capacities for resilience. In Part II Boss leads readers through the various aspects of and target points for working with those suffering ambiguous loss. From meaning to mastery, identity to ambivalence, attachment to hope–these chapters cover key states of mind for those undergoing ambiguous loss. The Epilogue addresses the therapist directly and his or her own ambiguous losses. Closing the circle of the therapeutic process, Boss shows therapists how fundamental their own experiences of loss are to their own clinical work.

In Loss, Trauma, and Resilience, Boss provides the therapeutic insight and wisdom that aids mental health professionals in not "going for closure," but rather building strength and acceptance of ambiguity. What readers will find is a concrete therapeutic approach that is at once directive and open to the complex contexts in which people find meaning and discover hope in the face of ambiguous losses.

Parenting, Grief & Loss, General Adoption, Search and Reunion, Professionals, Effects of Trauma, Grief & Loss in the Triad

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Pauline Boss

When a loved one dies we mourn our loss. We take comfort in the rituals that mark the passing, and we turn to those around us for support. But what happens when there is no closure, when a family member or a friend who may be still alive is lost to us nonetheless? How, for example, does the mother whose soldier son is missing in action, or the family of an Alzheimer's patient who is suffering from severe dementia, deal with the uncertainty surrounding this kind of loss?

In this sensitive and lucid account, Pauline Boss explains that, all too often, those confronted with such ambiguous loss fluctuate between hope and hopelessness. Suffered too long, these emotions can deaden feeling and make it impossible for people to move on with their lives. Yet the central message of this book is that they can move on. Drawing on her research and clinical experience, Boss suggests strategies that can cushion the pain and help families come to terms with their grief. Her work features the heartening narratives of those who cope with ambiguous loss and manage to leave their sadness behind, including those who have lost family members to divorce, immigration, adoption, chronic mental illness, and brain injury. With its message of hope, this eloquent book offers guidance and understanding to those struggling to regain their lives.

Parenting, Grief & Loss, General Adoption, Search and Reunion, Professionals, Grief & Loss in the Triad

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Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.

Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.

Parenting, Grief & Loss, General Adoption, Foster Care Adoption, Openness in Adoption, Children with Special Needs, Trauma & Brain Development, Professionals, Adoption Issues, Effects of Trauma, Grief & Loss in the Triad

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Susan M. Johnson

Since its original publication in 1996, this volume has been a helpful guide to therapists in the practice of emotionally focused therapy. This second edition addresses the many changes in the field of couples therapy, including updated research results linked to clinical intervention and new information on using EFT to address depression and PTSD. A new section covers the growth of couples therapy as a field and its overall relevance to the mental health field, accompanied by coverage of how recent research into the nature of marital distress is consonant with EFT. Other new features are a section on EFT and feminism, as well as a section on cultural competence for the EFT therapist.

Written by a leading authority on emotionally focused couples and marital therapy, this second edition is an up-to-date reference on all aspects of EFT and its uses for mental health professionals.

Parenting, Grief & Loss, General Adoption, Domestic Adoption, Foster Care Adoption, Growing Up Adopted, Openness in Adoption, Relative Adoption, Professionals, Adoption Issues, Grief & Loss in the Triad, Need for Connections

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Linnet McMahon

Child abuse cases and problems created by breakdowns in family relationships have highlighted the need for sound techniques for communicating with children. As a result, there is renewed interest in the therapeutic use of play to help prevent or repair emotional damage in both children and their families. The Handbook of Play Therapy is a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of play therapy. It provides a practical guide to the basic skills necessary to begin tapping the healing potential of play and gives many examples of good practice.

Children with Special Needs, Attachment, Trauma & Brain Development, Professionals, Adoption Issues, Grief & Loss in the Triad

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Martin M. Antony & David H. Barlow

This comprehensive reference and text provides detailed guidelines for conducting multimodal assessments of individuals suffering from frequently encountered psychological disorders. The contributors, leading scientist-practitioners, address the growing need for assessment approaches that are brief, easy to implement, and psychometrically sound. A wide range of tools and techniques are considered, including structured and semi-structured interviews, self-report measures, psychophysiological measures, observational techniques, and more. Of crucial importance, the book also demonstrates how assessment results can effectively be used in planning evidence-based interventions and monitoring the outcome of treatment. Providing essential knowledge to guide clinical decision making, this volume is an ideal companion for psychologists, psychiatrists, and other practitioners in today's demanding healthcare environment. An important reference for clinical researchers, it will serve as a text in graduate-level courses.

Professionals, Adoption Issues, Effects of Trauma, Grief & Loss in the Triad, Need for Connections, Transitions Considerations

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Nancy Boyd Webb

Until recently, there has not been a great deal of overlap in the child welfare and trauma literatures. This text bridges that divide by integrating perspectives from both fields to help practitioners understand and address the special needs of maltreated children and adolescents and their families. Current knowledge on attachment, trauma, and risk and resilience is clearly explained, including the impact of abuse on the brain. Readers learn how to conduct assessments and implement a range of effective helping strategies with youth in foster care and other settings. Featuring extensive case illustrations, the book gives particular attention to diversity issues and the importance of supporting child and family strengths.

Professionals, Effects of Trauma, Grief & Loss in the Triad

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Agnes M. Plenk

This volume is the result of the clinical, administrative, and advocacy experience that Dr. Plenk gained during the growth and development of The Children's Center in Salt Lake City. Using the day-treatment group therapy model, young children with emotional problems have been helped to eliminate difficulties that affect their education at a very early age. As a community agency, built on a shoestring budget, the state, federal, and local levels have contributed to major improvements in the learning and family life of many individuals associated with The Children's Center. This is their story written by the Founder and Executive Director, now retired.

Professionals, Adoption Issues, Effects of Trauma, FASD in Adoption, Grief & Loss in the Triad, Need for Connections

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Sheri Van Dijk

Let's face it: life gives you plenty of reasons to get angry, sad, scared, and frustrated-and those feelings are okay. But sometimes it can feel like your emotions are taking over, spinning out of control with a mind of their own. To make matters worse, these overwhelming emotions might be interfering with school, causing trouble in your relationships, and preventing you from living a happier life. Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Teens is a workbook that can help. In this book, you'll find new ways of managing your feelings so that you'll be ready to handle anything life sends your way. Based in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), a type of therapy designed to help people who have a hard time handling their intense emotions, this workbook helps you learn the skills you need to ride the ups and downs of life with grace and confidence.

Parenting, Parenting Teens, Professionals, Adoption Issues, Grief & Loss in the Triad

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Vernon G. Zunker

This current and comprehensive text is designed to give you a solid foundation in career development principles and concepts. Vernon Zunker translates theoretical principles into practical counseling objectives, programs, and strategies, and also covers the historical development of the field-preparing you for work in the 21st century.

Professionals, Adoption Issues, Effects of Trauma, FASD in Adoption, Grief & Loss in the Triad, Home Studies, Need for Connections, Transitions Considerations

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