Rebuilding Shattered Lives: The Responsible Treatment of Complex Post-Traumatic and Dissociative Disorders

Although I haven't read this book yet I want to add that I had a brief session with Dr. Chu this month and was impressed with his compassion and sensitivity. He was warm and friendly and very clearly did what he could to help me feel comfortable in such an uncomfortable situtation. He serves as a consultant to the program I was in and that's how I was able to meet with him. And I am very glad that he was able to give his input to my treatmant team.

After seeing Dr. James Chu on video, and being- for the most part- impressed with his sensitive and astute nature, I decided to read his book. Any therapist or psychiatrist, especially those who are beginning to work with clients who have trauma histories, as well as any client who can meaningfully make use of insights (sometimes difficult ones) can find value in Dr. Chu's careful and detailed work. This is a rather simplistic summary: Dr. Chu covers the structure of treatment, boundaries, session frequency, managing the disempowered client, as well as the many presentations and complexities of dissociative disorders and post traumatic behaviors such as transference, self inflicted violence, regression, and intolerable internal conflict- among others. Bringing his work to full vividness are the relevant clinical case examples liberally included. With great skill, Dr. Chu adeptly discusses cases that may appear to be dissociative disorders but, in fact, are not. Dr. Chu's engaging and accessible writing style and attention to the many complexities and nuances of the dynamics of treatment are extremely helpful, especially in the context of current societal black and white thinking. A brilliant crystallization of the issues surrounding the validity of memory is included in the book. Dr. Chu covers recent neurological evidence as well as implicit and explicit memory. He advises caution, although certainly not abdication of the responsibility to be compassionate and supportive. In addition, there is extensive attention paid throughout the book to reenactment of trauma and the various ways reenactment presents itself. Ultimately, Dr. Chu's book contains a quality synthesis of the current understandings of dissociative disorders and indicated treatments- cutting edge. His perspective is resonant with the true meaning and experiences of dissociation.

I found Dr.Chu's book to be quite comprehansive and "real" in his approach to working with complex dissociative disorders. His approach to the writing on this topic is both persoal and highly clinical in nature. I believe that all clinicians working with these complex clients should take the opportunity to read Dr. Chu's work as it allows one to actually think about her own treatment style and approach, and to evaluate mistakes as well as successes. I also see this as a valuable resource for clients dealing with these complex issues in a way that gives them a solid basis for their own treatment. My one concern was the short shrift given to the area of ritual abuse and its manifestations. I feel that Dr. Chu could have more thoroughly researched some of the current theories of mind control and presented a more comprehensive understanding of this very complex treatment. This does not, however, alter my overall opinion of the book.