Overview

This is an intensely personal story, which weaves a tale back and forth through time and space, capturing the confusion and despair of both the child and the adult as she searches for certainty in a world of shadows and falsehood. We journey with Cathy as she goes in search of ten lost years of her childhood, feeling her suffering acutely but also celebrating her triumphs. It is a vivid portrayal of the psychological contortions of a child striving for psychic survival and of the mental processes of the adult towards a full life. This book is a message of hope for those staring death in the face, those who cannot see a way forward into a life of health, those who daily revisit the terror and abject cruelty of their childhoods and those who fear they are losing their minds and descending into madness. It is a roadmap to health for those who feel isolated, lost and terrified and a reflective guide for the health professionals who work with them. In telling her story Cathy displays how an analytical psychotherapeutic process can guide a trauma survivor from confusion through chaos to stability and understanding. The story ends with a quiet sense of hope as Cathy, having integrated those ten forgotten childhood years, enjoys enriched relationships with her family and friends, and an untapped enthusiasm for the next phase of her life. An honest and ultimately hopeful memoir of confronting one's own painful childhood memories that you thought you could leave behind.

Full Product Details

9780980619331

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Cathy Kezelman always wanted to write; as a child she dreamt of being a journalist. However, she became a doctor instead and practised for 20 years until ill health forced her to retire. Cathy began writing during her recovery, initially as a process of catharsis. While completing this book, in the decade since leaving general practice Cathy has become an active advocate for the recognition of the long-term impact of child abuse. She currently holds the position of chairperson of ASCA (Adults Surviving Child Abuse), the key national organisation advancing the needs of Australian adult survivors of child abuse. Cathy is also on the board of the MHCC (Mental Health Coordinating Council of NSW) and in 2009 was short-listed for the CLW National Women's Leadership Award, and is an ambassador for National Families Week. Cathy continues to campaign against shame and stigma in both the child abuse and mental health arenas and sees the publication of this work as an important step towards acceptance and understanding of these issues.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available