Trauma has a far-reaching effect in that it impacts the individual, families, and communities. Rape, domestic violence, accidents and other life-threatening events can have a lifelong impact upon those who suffer the results. There are large groups of refugees and asylum seekers traumatized by war and famine seeking refuge. What they have gone through in seeking safety for themselves and their families is nothing short than heroic. But this recognition does not diminish the effects. On another front, in the United States alone approximately 20 active military and veterans commit suicide daily. Their trauma has different roots but is nonetheless painful.

Symptoms of trauma can include flashbacks, repetitive memories, neurological imprinting, dissociation and emotional disturbances impacting sleep, dreams, and concentration. The medical model prefers treating these symptoms with medication. In contrast, the Whole-Person Approach is one that offers a treatment model incorporating “intention, awareness, and mindfulness as the mediating variables between cognition and behavior. It includes the areas of meaning, beliefs, and existential choice … It recognizes that life-threatening events can offer a renewed will to live” (p. 1). In short, how trauma is treated can make a huge difference in the healing process. The Whole Person Approach does not follow the standard medical model’s approach to trauma as something needing to be medicated. Traumatic experiences are increasing. If left untreated, the effects remain. Therefore healing paradigms are needed to treat their impact on body, mind, and spirit. Therefore, a holistic model is required.

This book is the result of ten years of efforts following a presentation with an integrative perspective to the American Psychological Association by Serlin and Krippner. This resulted in advice to write a book defining this perspective. After five years of rejections by other publishers, Rowan and Littlefield accepted the book proposal and the process of gathering authors to contribute integrative healing models began.

Significant attention is given to the meaning of trauma. What does it mean to the individual? In conventional models, it is rare that the individual is encouraged to explore existential questions. The integrative model recognizes that such explorations can open doors providing individual meaning resulting in heroic transformation. The treatment is not superficial. It goes to the heart of the trauma while appreciating the patient’s strengths. The editors note that when life and well-being are threatened, inevitably the issue of spirituality arises. This can open doors to other ways of knowing adding to healing.

Thus, expressive arts, animal-assisted interventions, psychodrama, breath practices, and movement therapy are included in various chapters. In that trauma impacts the body, movement is very important for emotional expression, neurological release and also to increase receptivity of healing energies and new ways of moving. Indigenous ways for understanding and working with trauma are explored as well with a chapter discussing Indigenous recognition and focus on treating “soul loss,” a response associated with trauma. Each of these paradigms offers ways for recovering soul through a deep and transformational healing influence on emotions, mind, and body.

The opening chapter to the section of Whole-Person Group Therapy Models discusses a seven-step integrative healing model useful to both therapist and patient. It delves into the work of the Association of Trauma Outreach and Prevention (ATOP), called Meaningfulworld. It is affiliated with the United Nations and brings together “health professionals, teachers, art therapists, alternative medicine practitioners, clergy, nurses, mediators, and laypersons working in communities affected by trauma” (p. 29). The seven-fold model includes (1) assessing levels of posttraumatic stress, (2) ways for encouraging expression of feelings, (3) providing empathy and validation, (4) encouraging the discovery and expression of meaning, (5) providing and gathering information, (6) Using Eco-centered processing, and (7) finishing with breathwork, movement exercises, and meditation. Its author explains why each of these processes is relevant to the whole-person integrative approach. Chapter One sets the stage for the chapters that follow.
Part I provides foundational knowledge for application of the integrative model. Part II discusses various group therapy models as noted above. Part III is timely in that it shares various models for working with communities. Given the increase of mass shootings, refugees seeking safety from war and/or famine, territories in continuous conflicts, and increasing environmental catastrophes, it is extremely relevant to have community interventions that provide Whole-Person Approaches. Part IV provides applicable ideas for the future of such care for the traumatized.

In their conclusions the authors note how

some mental health care providers may find the magnitude of the Whole-Person approach daunting; however, one does what one can, given that attending to the physical, attitudinal, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of a traumatized person or group may seem like an overwhelming task. But simply being aware of the complexity of the trauma may stimulate each affected person or group to seek alliances with other caregivers and local resources. While the challenge is obvious, the response is uncertain; nevertheless, the future of our fractured world clearly depends upon the sharing of compassion, empathy, and hope. (p. 205)

In summary, this is a very timely and important book. It is a guide for dealing with the whole person, and in so doing, to empower healing.

Dr. Stanley Krippner’s work can be found here: https://stanleykrippner.weebly.com/

Dr. Ilene Serlin’s work can be found here: https://www.ciis.edu/faculty-and-staff-directory/ilene-serlin

Dr. Kirwan Rockefeller can be found here: https://www.saybrook.edu/faculty/byname/kirwan_rockefeller/

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