Includes bibliographical references and index.

Understanding our reactions to trauma. Understanding our reactions to traumatic life events --
Understanding our responses to traumatic events: our brain, our motives and our emotions --
Understanding our trauma memories: flashbacks, nightmares and intrusive thoughts --
Understanding shame and self-criticism in relation to traumatic events --
Understanding our need for compassion in our lives --
Developing our compassionate mind skills. Preparing out minds for compassion: attributes of compassion --
Preparing our minds for compassion: the beginnings of skills development --
Developing our skills to access compassionate feelings --
Using our compassionate minds to soothe our traumatized minds. Using compassion to understand our life stories --
Using our compassionate minds to resolve our shame-filled flashbacks --
Using compassionate letter writing to bring compassion to our trauma stories --
Moving on in your life with compassion.

Terrible events are very hard to deal with, and those who go through a trauma often feel permanently changed by it. This book uses compassion-focused therapy to help the reader to not only develop a fuller understanding of how we react to trauma, but also to deal with any feelings of shame and start to overcome difficulties