Book description
Conventional wisdom holds that trauma scars us for life, wreaking
psychological havoc that affects everything from our sleep cycles to our
relationships to our very will to live, but this popular conception of
trauma ignores a startling fact: many people emerge from traumatic
experiences stronger, wiser and more fulfilled, despite having endured
great emotional pain. For the past 20 years, Joseph has worked with
survivors of trauma and sufferers of posttraumatic stress. In this
groundbreaking book, he boldly challenges current notions about trauma
and its aftermath. His studies have shown that a wide range of traumatic
events - from illness, divorce, separation, assault and bereavement to
accidents, natural disasters and terrorism - can act as catalysts for
positive change strengthening relationships, changing one's perspective
and revealing inner strengths. What Doesn't Kill Us reveals how all of
us can navigate change and adversity - traumatic or otherwise - to find
new meaning, purpose, and direction in life. We live in a world in
which suffering is endemic. In this book Stephen Joseph sounds a hopeful
note. Suffering need not destroy Terry Waite CBE In this fascinating
book, Stephen Joseph maps out the rarely explored positive consequences
of trauma, reminding us that growth is possible even in the most adverse
circumstances Richard Bentall, Professor of Clinical Psychology,
University of Liverpool What Doesn't Kill Us seamlessly combines needed
inspiration and the most advanced information about the new psychology
of posttraumatic growth for those who have experienced great suffering.
Stephen Joesph, one of the leading experts in the world on trauma,
resilience, and growth, offers both compelling stories and practical
information. What Doesn't Kill Us is a book of wisdom - both for those
who have undergone great stress as well as for those who love and treat
them. It is psychology at its best: honest, hopeful and based on sound
serious research. Reading it makes me proud to be a psychologist Robert
J. Wicks, Professor, Loyola University Maryland and author of Bounce:
Living the Resilient Life What Doesn't Kill Us is an insightful and
entertaining account of the new psychology of resilience. Stephen Joseph
brilliantly combines personal anecdote with cutting edge psychology to
explain why all of us have the capacity to triumph over adversity. A
must read if you ever wondered why most of us rebound so well after
disaster, What Doesn't Kill Us is an invaluable guide for anyone wanting
to know how to cope with trauma Elaine Fox, PhD, Professor of
Psychology, University of Essex This is the book we have been waiting
for Stephen Joseph to write. With decades of experience and knowledge,
Joseph presents the wonderfully complex world of posttraumatic growth in
an accessible and personable way. Not only does the book provide the
most-up-to-date research, What Doesn't Kill Us offers tangible
approaches to developing growth after trauma; a feat that will be valued
by many Dr Kate Hefferon, Senior Lecturer, University of East London and
author of Positive Psychology: Theory, research and applications This is
a caring and thoughtful account, arguing for the normality of
post-traumatic stress as a process of adaptation. Professor Joseph
presents a personal and positive perspective, showing how people can
come through painful experiences and live fulfilling lives ... His
THRIVE model provides a coherent approach to helping traumatised people
Dr Nigel Hunt, Associate Professor in Health Psychology, University of
Nottingham Beautifully written, drawing on cutting-edge scientific
research to reveal one of humankind's noblest qualities: the capacity to
find meaning and growth in the face of near-unbearable suffering Mick
Cooper, Professor of Counselling, University of Strathclyde Stephen
Joseph brings his expertise as one of the world's most prolific and
influential schlars of trauma and over two decades of clinical
experience to bear in producing a literate and compelling book on growth
from and through adversity. The book is replete with powerfu story-lines
of people who persevered in the face of great pain and loss: From
Michael J. Fox to Viktor Frankl we learn how survivors lived in
Nietzsche's dictum of what doesn't kill you can make you stronger. All
the while, the book is highly educational about the dynamics of
posttraumatic growth and related concepts. It is a rare feat to produce
a book that will appeal and be useful to the general public, as well as
scholars and practitioners. Joseph has done so John Harvey, Professor
Emeritus of Psychology, University of Iowa What Doesn't Kill Us - indeed
does and can make us stronger as brilliantly presented by Professor
Stephen Joseph and lived throughout my every day Dr Gill Hicks MBE,
survivor of the London Bombings, July 7, 2005 Convincingly challenging,
highly entertaining, and compulsively readable, What Doesn't Kill Us is
thoroughly recommended for both those who have a have not experienced
trauma. A transformational new perspective Elaine Iljon Foreman, author
of Fly Away Fear: Overcoming Your Fear of Flying and co-author of
Depression for Dummies Stephen Joseph's book is inspirational and, not
just for the lay reader but also for all therapists, regardless of their
theoretical orientation, as trauma is an inherent part of their work. It
goes far beyond the narrow confines of current clinical approaches to
working with trauma and posttraumatic stress and challenges all
clinicians to think about what we actually say and do in the consulting
room. He takes us along the path of post traumatic growth as an
experienced and perceptive guide, opening up many new thought provoking
therapeutic possibilities and avenues to facilitate post traumatic
growth rather than merely deal with symptomatic change. His chapter on
signposts to the facilitation of growth following adversity, through the
acronym THRIVE has a simple elegance that everyone can adopt in our
current uncertain times. To say that it is essential reading would be an
understatement. It is essential as a survival guide to life Stephen
Regel, Honorary Associate Professor/Co-Director Centre for Trauma,
Resilience and Growth School of Sociology and Social Policy, University
of Nottingham Traumatised individuals have a story to tell, as well as
re-author. Professor Stephen Joseph is compassionate, attentive listener
and a sensitive and scholarly conveyer of this narrative process. He has
ably blended his many years of research and clinical practice into an
enlightened story of post traumatic growth. This a book that should be
read by all who encountered trauma and those who love and treat them.
Kudos to Professor Joseph for providing a needed new direction for the
treatment of those who experience [posttraumatic stress disorder] and
related challenges. This book is a clarion call for a Constructive
Narrative Perspective to psychotherapy, filled with pathos and hope
Donald Meichenbaum, PhD Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and Research Director of the Melissa Institute
for Violence Prevention and Treatment of Victims of Violence, Miami,
Florida Tsunamis, assault, near-death accidents: such experiences are
popularly imagined to scar victims 'for life' and leave them in thrall
to post-traumatic stress disorder. After two decades of research,
positive psychologist Stephen Joseph argues that, for many, these
traumas can become an "engine for transformation". Backed by
case studies, he covers trauma's emotional toll, the underlying biology,
the realities of resilience and the array of therapies on offer, such as
trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy. This is a thorough and
common-sense look at the psychology of survival Nature, Books and Arts
Stephen Joseph is professor of psychology, health and social care at the
University of Nottingham, where he is co-director of the Centre for
Trauma, Resilience and Growth and an honorary consultant psychologist in
psychotherapy.
