Creativity, Trauma, and Resilience

Reviews / Votes

Thomson and Jaque (both, kinesiology, California State Univ., Northridge) have written an innovative, insightful volume detailing how childhood and adult trauma may manifest in daily life and what people can do to overcome bouts of terror and negative feelings. This text combines evidenced-based insight with a creative approach to confront a challenging topic. The first part of the book discusses theories and processes of creativity, touching on aspects such as flow and phenomenological experiences. The text then delves into trauma, dedicating particular attention to the impact of adverse events in childhood, such as loss and exposure to violence. The third and most valuable section of the book discusses strategies for building resilience to help combat the consequences of traumatic experiences. Special attention is given to the importance of developing self-regulation and coping skills. The authors conclude the text by discussing ways to foster "creative resilience," the growth of aspects such as self-efficacy, optimism, and hope. The authors provide tangible solutions to individuals and their caretakers in cultivating creative resilience in their lives. Summing Up: Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty and above. * Choice Reviews * Creativity, Trauma, and Resilience is a triumph of integration and insight. This book brings together diverse literatures to offer new understandings of the connection between creativity and trauma pathology, drawing on attachment theory, neurobiology and the psychology of shame, to explore how we suffer, how we survive and how we can thrive in the face of overwhelming experiences. -- Martin J. Dorahy, University of Canterbury, Christchurch Creativity, Trauma, and Resilience is a powerful and important book that offers both hope and vital information for anyone who has experienced a trauma or devastating life event and is looking to their creative spirit to help recover, heal, and persevere. Grounded in established scientific research, the authors eloquently discuss how creativity works and how it can help resilience. It is valuable and vital contribution to the field. -- James C. Kaufman, University of Connecticut