Taming Trauma Beasties: Helping Children Confront Trauma and Heal is a one-of-a-kind literary treasure that mental health workers, parents and care givers will need to have as they help children recover from trauma. It empowers children by providing them with concepts typically reserved for adults. Through the use of clear, simple language and engaging drawings, children are able to learn about trauma, triggers and flashbacks. A series of stories walks the reader through typical nontraumatic situations, skillfully showing how such situations can rapidly become terror-filled because some aspect of them triggers the memory of an earlier trauma. The Trauma Beastie concept allows treatment to begin immediately, even when the child is reluctant to talk about the traumatic event. It also acts as a container for deeply painful thoughts and feelings. After explaining the basic concepts, Drs. Gallagher and Karjala provide both traditional and innovative techniques that are easy to learn, fun to use and very effective for healing the wounds of trauma. This book is designed to be read out loud by adults to children. It is easily appropriate for children aged 9 and up but has been used with children as young as 6, especially as an adjunct to psychotherapy. This book is immensely valuable in the treatment of children who have experienced any form of trauma, including those who have been displaced from their homes or even their countries of origin because of abuse, adoption or natural disaster.

Trauma Beasties Activity Book
by Mary M. Gallagher, Ph.D. and Lynn Mary Karjala, Ph.D.
Illustrated by Zach Anderson with Dale Gettier
ThomasMax Publishing
$10.95 plus s/h

Taming Trauma Activity Book is designed to accompany Taming Trauma Beasties:  Helping Children Confront Trauma and Heal.  It allows each child an opportunity to personalize the material to his or her particular situation.  Because Taming Trauma Beasties is aimed at a developmental level of 9 to 12 years, the activity book is also designed to serve as a bridge for younger children, although older readers may certainly enjoy and benefit from the games and activities as well. 

Understanding Trauma and Dissociation: A Guide for Therapists, Patients and Loved Ones
by Lynn Mary Karjala, Ph.D.
ThomasMax Publishing
$14.95 plus s/h

Dr. Karjala, co-author of Taming Trauma Beasties, breaks down and unravels the mystery of dissociation in this “must-read” book for psychotherapists who treat the aftereffects of trauma, as well as for trauma survivors and their loved ones. In simple and clear language, she explains the connection between dissociation, trauma, and the devastating physical and psychological symptoms that stem from them. She offers a thorough description and understanding of the three phases of trauma treatment, with an eminently practical guide for using the Quintessential Safe Place to minimize the terrifying experience of retraumatization by the flooding of traumatic feelings and thoughts. There is an engaging description of
the “critical voice/protectors,” a very active internal system aimed, among other things, at derailing treatment and preventing the patient from experiencing any hope of recovery. Finally, there is an introduction to mind-body techniques and their application to the treatment of trauma.

Dr. Karjala’s book may be purchased through her website, www.karjala.com, as well as through bookstores and internet merchants.