Focusing on clinical work with severely disturbed patients, the book translates complex psychoanalytic concepts from Bion and Lacan into accessible language. Marilyn Charles emphasizes the impact of trauma on psychosocial development and provides mental health professionals with practical insights and tools to enhance their therapeutic practices. Through this approach, the book aims to bridge theoretical knowledge and real-world application in the treatment of trauma-affected individuals.
Working with Trauma: Lessons from Bion and Lacan by Marilyn Charles takes concepts from the psychoanalytic literature and translates them into user- friendly language. Charles focuses on clinical work with more severely disturbed patients, for whom trauma has impeded their psychosocial development, in order to show mental health professionals how they might use different concepts in their own work.
The book explores essential concepts for clinicians, particularly those new to the field, to enhance their self-awareness and better understand their patients' experiences. Marilyn Charles presents key therapeutic ideas such as container and contained, transitional space, and transference/countertransference, framing them as practical tools rather than mere academic theories. By drawing on the insights of Klein, Winnicott, and Bion, she revitalizes these foundational concepts, making them accessible and applicable to everyday clinical practice, fostering creativity and depth in therapeutic encounters.
Exploring the concept of primary experiences, Marilyn Charles reveals how they form distinct patterns that encapsulate individual subjectivity. Through her analysis of patients, she uncovers the significance of these patterns as foundational elements of personal meaning, highlighting their role in understanding the complexities of human experience. The work delves into the interplay between individual narratives and broader psychological frameworks, offering insights into personal growth and therapeutic processes.
Marilyn Charles skillfully bridges psychoanalysis and literature by pairing clinical case vignettes with literary examples, illuminating fundamental human struggles encountered in therapy. Her accessible approach demystifies complex psychoanalytic concepts, making them relevant to everyday life. Through this combination, she explores the narratives that shape our experiences and the interplay between psychological theory and storytelling.