The Complexity of Trauma: Jungian and Psychoanalytic Approaches to the Treatment of Trauma

This important volume offers a broad and in-depth overview of how to understand and treat trauma from a Jungian perspective, written by internationally recognized experts in the field of Jungian and traditional psychoanalysis.

It applies C.G. Jung’s concept of the ’complex’ and his understanding of splitting processes of the psyche to trauma. Traversing a range of pertinent themes including archetypal defences, primary narcissistic wounding, somatic symptoms, symbolic representation and processing, transference and types of memory, the book features a variety of voices from different theoretical perspectives, with each contributor offering clinical examples and lessons from their experiences working with patients. Chapters cover a wide range of clinical phenomena including early relational trauma, dissociative states, the Self-care System, unconscious communication, embodied countertransference, eroticisation, PTSD, creativity and cultural/social issues.

The Complexity of Trauma is key reading for psychoanalysts and therapists as well as for researchers, students, and trainees in schools of psychodynamic psychotherapy and those interested in working with trauma.

Luisa Zoppi is a Clinical Psychologist and Jungian Training Analyst (Italian Association of Analytical Psychology (AIPA)). Since 2015, she has been teaching Theory of Complexes, Transcendent Function and Dynamics of the Individuation Process at AIPA. Since August 2019, she has been a member of the Executive Committee of the International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP).

Martin Schmidt is a Jungian Training Analyst (Society of Analytical Psychology) in London) who lectures and supervises widely around the world. He has worked for over 20 years as a psychologist in psychiatric rehabilitation, was former Honorary Secretary of the IAAP and its Regional Organiser for Central Europe.