Narrative Exposure Therapy: A Short-term Treatment for Traumatic Stress Disorders

Schauer (psychology, U. of Konstanz, Germany) et al. introduce mental health practitioners to narrative exposure therapy, which integrates psychological rehabilitation with issues of human rights and dignity, for use in the short-term treatment of traumatic stress disorders caused by organized violence, torture, war, rape, and childhood abuse. After description of the theoretical background, rationale, and elements of the therapy, they detail how to use the approach in each session and deal with special issues like avoidance, dissociation, shame, social pain, guilt, withholding information, and ethics. A few excerpts from therapy are included. This edition has a new conceptual understanding of complex and social trauma. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

...Based on principles of behavioral and cognitive psychology, the NET method ... can be learned and administred by paraprofessionals. -- Peter J. Lang, PhD, Professor and Director of the NIMH Centre for the Study of Emotion and Attention and Director of the Fear Clinic at the University of Gainesville, FL

...The [title] is an extremely valuable contribution to the currently available treatment options for Traumatic Stress Disorders... -- Daya Somasundaram, Psychiatrist and Professor at the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka

This book fills a gaping hole in the field...required for all...who treat these groups of trauma survivors. -- Andreas Maercker, MD, PhD, Professor, University of Zurich and member of the Board of Directors of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies