This personal yet scholarly journey into the confusing and clandestine world of ritual abuse survivors sheds light on their catastrophic experiences and their efforts to heal afterward. Revised, updated, and expanded, this third edition of a classic study is one of the most authoritative and evenhanded volumes to tackle its hotly debated subject matter. Incorporating the authors' firsthand observations, the book provides historical, anthropological, and psychological context for contemporary reports of both ritual abuse and ritual crime. In addition to sharing patient vignettes and a history of cult and ritual abuse in society, the authors explore fascinating topics related to these practices, among them what triggers personality shifts for victims even many years after the abuse has stopped. Importantly, the book shows how ritual abuse affects society as a whole, influencing civil and criminal law, politics, legislation, social movements, social welfare, and psychological theory. It provides unique insights into the scientific study, forensic investigation, and implementation of social services for survivors of cult and ritual abuse, discusses new research and treatment strategies, and establishes the foundation for a psychological diagnosis to be called Cult and Ritual Trauma Disorder. Features recalled histories of ritual abuse and vignettes of patients who have experienced dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder) Discusses techniques used to create and manipulate altered states of consciousness Explores how media sensationalizes and inaccurately depicts ritual abuse Critiques the argument that ritual abuse stories are the result of false memories and advances the idea that reports of ritual abuse are understated Expresses the position that clinicians have an ethical duty to achieve competence in recognizing and treating the psychological effects of ritual abuse Concludes that clinicians, lawmakers, law enforcement, social services personnel, journalists, and others need to treat allegations of ritual abuse seriously and evaluate each report on its own merits

Island Studies can be deceptively challenging and rewarding for an undergraduate student. Islands can be many things: nations, tourist destinations, quarantine stations, billionaire baubles, metaphors. The study of islands offers a way to take this 'bewildering variety' and to use it as a lens and a tool to better understand our own world of islands. An Introduction to Island Studies is an approachable look at this interdisciplinary field - from the islands as biodiversity hotspots, their settlement, human migration and occupation through to the place of islands in the popular imagination. Featuring geopolitical, social and economic frameworks, James Randall gives a bottom-up guide to this most modern area of study. From the geological analysis of island formation to the metaphorical use of islands in culture and literature, the growing field of island studies is truly interdisciplinary. This new introduction gives readers from many disciplines the local, global, and regional perspectives that unlock the promise of island studies as a way to see the world. From the struggles and concerns of the Anthropocene-climate change, vulnerability and resilience, sustainable development, through to policy making and local environments-islands studies has the potential to change the debate.

This vital new book navigates the personal, professional and political selves on the journey to training in clinical psychology. Readers will be able to explore a range of ways to enrich their practice through a focus on identities and differences, relationships and power within organisations, supervisory contexts, therapeutic conventions and community approaches. This book includes a rich exploration of how we make sense of personal experiences as practitioners, including chapters on self-formulation, personal therapy, and using services. Through critical discussion, practice examples, shared accounts and exercises, individuals are invited to reflect on a range of topical issues in clinical psychology. Voices often marginalised within the profession write side-by-side with those more established in the field, offering a unique perspective on the issues faced in navigating clinical training and the profession more broadly. In coming together, the authors of this book explore what clinical psychology can become. Surviving Clinical Psychology invites those early on in their careers to link 'the political' to personal and professional development in a way that is creative, critical and values-based, and will be of interest to pre-qualified psychologists and researchers, and those mentoring early-career practitioners.

This vital new book navigates the personal, professional and political selves on the journey to training in clinical psychology. Readers will be able to explore a range of ways to enrich their practice through a focus on identities and differences, relationships and power within organisations, supervisory contexts, therapeutic conventions and community approaches. This book includes a rich exploration of how we make sense of personal experiences as practitioners, including chapters on self-formulation, personal therapy, and using services. Through critical discussion, practice examples, shared accounts and exercises, individuals are invited to reflect on a range of topical issues in clinical psychology. Voices often marginalised within the profession write side-by-side with those more established in the field, offering a unique perspective on the issues faced in navigating clinical training and the profession more broadly. In coming together, the authors of this book explore what clinical psychology can become. Surviving Clinical Psychology invites those early on in their careers to link 'the political' to personal and professional development in a way that is creative, critical and values-based, and will be of interest to pre-qualified psychologists and researchers, and those mentoring early-career practitioners.

This book responds to a previously unmet need: unlocking the mysteries of Social Security disability programs and providing medical and mental health clinicians, as well as advocates, with the information necessary to act in the best interests of their clients. This text aims to bring clarity to medical and psychological health care providers so they better understand the importance of their role in disability determinations by familiarizing them with the benefits, limitations, and qualifications for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income. Also useful for patient advocates, the authors here provide insights into the workings of Social Security, the language employed, the definitions adhered to, and the reliance on providers to respond to requests from Social Security and their patients to support their claims when warranted. Almost all medical and mental health professionals will need to interact with Social Security at some point, but will not understand the relevance or importance of their response. Much hangs on the clarity of treatment notes and opinions rendered by clinicians. Not only can their failure to respond to requests for Social Security, or to their patients in a disability case, obstruct their patients' access to benefits, it may also put a provider at risk of board censure or civil suit. Provides a realistic understanding of the Social Security Disability bureaucracy Provides basic eligibility requirements and potential benefits Suggests strategies for maintaining treatment records that respond to needs of Social Security Explains how the language of Social Security differs from that of medicine and psychology and how to reconcile the two Provides the ethical underpinning of clinicians' participation in the disability determination process

Horribly injured in a firefight in Iraq, U.S. Army First Lieutenant Jon David Luke is a broken man. Unable to cope with everyday reality and racked with pain and unyielding nightmares, Jon David decides to end his life in a remote Alaska cabin. Sara Riley, a trauma physician, finds her life spiraling downward after discovering an unfaithful husband. Increasingly, her life is haunted by an incessant, recurring dream. Though thousands of miles apart, startling events at the cabin inexorably draw Jon David and Sara together. Beautifully written and candidly told, After the Purple Heart takes readers on a spiritual journey, highlighting the surprising paths our lives often take to discover truth, light, and everlasting love.

U.S. Army Ranger Colt Mercer calls it quits after three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he continues to be tormented by images of the killings he's seen and done. Stuck in an emotional no-man's land full of anger and guilt, believing no one could love him and even God has abandoned him, Colt heads to Alaska to try and fill the void. On a hike, he discovers and adopts a wounded castoff mutt. When the dog recovers, they head out by motorcycle in search of Colt's elusive "noble purpose" in life. Across North America, he lives simply, reflects deeply, and struggles with the demons of his past. In Maine, Colt meets a beautiful woman with whom he shares a passionate week. But when she professes her love for him, in his twisted thinking, he believes she has wronged him and he nearly destroys his one chance at love. It is Jekyll, the abandoned dog, who comes to Colt's rescue and transforms his hardened heart.

Artist and writer James Randall Chumbley comes out of hiding after three years since his last bestseller with his most revealing book ever, Alabama Snow. The author has written a tender, heartbreaking story of how his mother lost her dreams-growing up poor, the daughter of a sharecropper cotton farmer in rural Alabama-and his attempts of trying, for years, to save her from mental illness and alcoholism. Plus, his own struggles with facing the break-up of the love of his life, whom he met just a month after his mother's death, which almost pushed him to suicide. Find out how a message of hope from her saved her beloved son from meeting the same end as his father. Anyone whose life has been touched by mental illness will find something worthwhile in this narrative. James has opened his heart and soul, holding nothing back for the reader.

Island Studies can be deceptively challenging and rewarding for an undergraduate student. Islands can be many things: nations, tourist destinations, quarantine stations, billionaire baubles, metaphors. The study of islands offers a way to take this 'bewildering variety' and to use it as a lens and a tool to better understand our own world of islands. An Introduction to Island Studies is an approachable look at this interdisciplinary field - from the islands as biodiversity hotspots, their settlement, human migration and occupation through to the place of islands in the popular imagination. Featuring geopolitical, social and economic frameworks, James Randall gives a bottom-up guide to this most modern area of study. From the geological analysis of island formation to the metaphorical use of islands in culture and literature, the growing field of island studies is truly interdisciplinary. This new introduction gives readers from many disciplines the local, global, and regional perspectives that unlock the promise of island studies as a way to see the world. From the struggles and concerns of the Anthropocene-climate change, vulnerability and resilience, sustainable development, through to policy making and local environments-islands studies has the potential to change the debate.