Summary

“Trapped in Relationships: The Cost of Abuse and Neglect” opens with a quote suggesting that a necessary part of mental health is journeying into the darker sides of the self, a journey that can be painful but that must be undertaken and faced with courage. Author van der Kolk then prologues the chapter with a discussion of a client named Marilyn, who reacted with unexpected anger and violence to an intimate encounter with a man with whom she had developed what she thought was a safe and healthy relationship. The author comments that this is often how therapy begins – with some kind of unexplained behavior that a client needs, or wants, help understanding and coping with.

In “Terror and Numbness,” the author describes various aspects of his work with Marilyn: having her draw a picture of what she says...