The Red Place: Transforming Past Traumas Through Relationships

Most of us encounter trauma at some point in our lives, whether directly through our own experiences or indirectly through relationships with trauma victims. Hale describes these encounters as journeys to "The Red Place" - an emotionally intense state of being often beyond conscious awareness that contains both the heroic and the monstrous aspects of past violations, a place where we can both experience the pain of trauma and find the strength to cope with it. This book delves into the psychological complexities of the Red Place by analyzing stories of trauma - from myths passed down by the ancients, to modern films and novels, to real life case studies from her own work as a psychotherapist. Throughout, Hale reveals how empathic connections in both personal and professional relationships have the power to heal in the aftermath of trauma. Such relationships can help us harness the generative forces of the Red Place rather than being led by its destructive ones, ultimately transforming past traumas.

Table of Contents:
Introduction What It Means to Transform Past Traumas? Through Relationships Red Flashes from the Past Responsibility Avoidance Caution This Book is Written for You An Invitation 1. Within the Red Island of Myth and The Red Place of Trauma Herakles and Geryon Getting to Know Herakles The Island: A Red Terrain of Trauma A Red Place, Existing In Between The Red Place in Our Relationships A Scope of Emotional Experience in Battle Learning From Warriors Like Herakles The Nature of Our Journey The Essence of the Island: Vulnerability Getting There Aftermath Potential Through Integration Implications for Relationships and Attitudes Practices 2. Within Shifting Perspective The Clash of Extremes in Combat Ways That Herakles and Geryon Are Alike Heroic Perspectives and Accountability Herakles as Hero Herakles as Monstrous Geryon as Heroic Geryon's Death as Sacrifice Geryon as Monstrous Assistance by the Gods Hera Helios Athena Integrating Perspectives Implications for Relationships Insights and Attitudes Practices 3. Within a Marriage First Impressions Traveling Further Understanding Combat Revisiting Past Traumas and Returning Shifting Perspectives Regeneration Implications for Relationships Insights and Attitudes Practices 4. Within Our Selves The Heroic Within Within a Child and a Family Within My Self Connection Empathy Support New Perspectives Recognition A Year Later Compassion, Connections Hope Another Year Later Fatigue And Yet Another Year Later A Changing World View Final Time Together Accountability Responsibility and Integration Remembering Integrating Perspectives Within My Self Implications for Relationships Insights and Attitudes Practices 5. Within the Layers Shattering The Journey Gaps Wrong Feelings Connections to Other Traumas Assimilating Perspectives Witness Implications for Relationships Insights and Attitudes Practices 6. Within Our Connections Risk Transforming Red Place Journeys Together Implications for Relationships Insights and Attitudes Practices 7. Within the Concept of Trauma Describing Trauma Social Interconnections of Traumatic Experience Defining Traumatic Impact Social and Political Contexts Reparation Processes More Complete Journeys That Heal. Notes References Index Acknowledgements

About the Author :
Cynthia Anne Hale, PhD practices depth psychology as an educator, writer, and psychotherapist, exploring ways that inner and outer experience can be integrated through the creative imagination. As a core faculty member at Pacifica Graduate Institute in California, she has taught in the clinical depth psychology programmes. She currently serves as the academic director of institutional learning, conducting institute-wide assessment and research from a depth perspective.

Review :
"Empathically takes the reader into the world of trauma in a remarkably reflective, even-handed way." - Joseph Cambray, PhD, Jungian analyst; past president, IAAP "An original, heartfelt, and illuminating work about the healing potential of empathic connection." - Renee Shafransky, MA, LMHC, New York "Clinicians in the helping profession, students and teachers of psychology, and anyone who is interested in the multilayered dynamics inherent in moving through, and beyond, the most difficult and painful experiences in life, will find this book a guide towards understanding and transforming trauma." - Kathryn Brown, MA, LMFT, Emeritus Professor, Counseling Psychology, Pacifica Graduate Institute