He is a scholar in Pierre Janet Studies and is a past President of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISSTS). Onno van der Hart, PhD is a psychologist, adult psychotherapist (retired) in private practice and researcher he is Emeritus Professor of Psychopathology of Chronic Traumatization at the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at Utrecht University, the Netherlands.

The structural conception of dissociation enhances ones understanding not only of PTSD and Complex PTSD, Dissociative Identity Disorder and cases of severe protracted physical and sexual abuse, but clarifies the contribution of trauma to Borderline Personality Disorder, Somatoform Disorders and certain physical syndromes characteristically associated with emotional trauma and stress.вЂќ вЂ“Dr Mike Matar, MD (Psych) Without seeking to replace or compete with other trauma theories or treatment modalities, the authors present an over-arching and unifying conceptual approach to comprehending the psycho-biological underpinnings of a highly variable and challenging population of patients, who quite commonly present with a complex and confusing array of atypical and changeable clinical and therapeutic issues, only partly addressed by current diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines. There is a refreshing undercurrent of humility to the book вЂ“ the reader feels encouraged to examine and comment freely. One finds oneself led to familiar areas through вЂњhidden stairwaysвЂќ and suddenly comes to perceive and comprehend things from unexpected angles. However, it is also a remarkably thrilling reading experience, reminiscent of the вЂњhaunted-houseвЂќ stories of my youth.

вЂњWhat an exceptional book! The step-wise didactic clarity and innovative content of The Haunted Self alone would suffice to justify making the book required reading material for all health professionals encountering trauma victims.

Der wordbook