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Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy

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Description

An accessible user's guide to overcoming trauma from the creator of a scientifically proven form of psychotherapy that has successfully treated millions of people worldwide. Whether we’ve experienced small setbacks or major traumas, we are all influenced by our memories and by experiences we may not remember or fully understand. Getting Past Your Past offers practical techniques that demystify the human condition and empower readers looking to take charge of their lives. Shapiro, the creator of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), explains how our personalities develop and why we become trapped into feeling, believing and acting in ways that don't serve us. Through detailed examples and exercises readers will learn to understand themselves, and why the people in their lives act the way they do. Most importantly, readers will also learn techniques to improve their relationships, break through emotional barriers, overcome limitations, and excel in ways taught to Olympic athletes, successful executives, and performers. An easy conversational style, humor, and fascinating real life stories make it simple to understand the brain science, why we get stuck in various ways and how to achieve real change. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rodale Books; 39783rd edition (March 26, 2013)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1609619951


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 54


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.41 x 0.9 x 8.43 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #8,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #9 in Popular Neuropsychology #26 in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder #43 in Popular Psychology Pathologies


#9 in Popular Neuropsychology:


#26 in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder:


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • A Spark in the Dark
This is a wonderful book. There are no ifs ands or buts about that. And EMDR is a powerful tool. I'm a Therapist, and if EMDR was say, a pair of pliers, I'd have worn it out years ago. However, in my opinion, that is missing the main point. This is a book that brings an understanding of how negative life experiences in the past can live on and shape what is going on in the 'now' to a broad audience. It is the 'broad audience' part that really makes this book valuable. It is more than just the quite common theme, 'My "tool" works better than your favorite tool for healing' type of book. Or my theory is better than your theory. Many books on healing and growth focus most of their energy on either the 'why' or the 'how'. One of the keys to healing and growth is having a good balance: an understanding of the 'why', along with some strong tools for transformation. A good understanding of the why, with no tools, weak tools or the wrong tools leaves one strongly self aware, but stuck in the mess. Having great tools is wonderful, but without some understanding of the how, why and when you should use them, you may be figuratively using a jack hammer in an attempt to build a birdhouse. The why gives you a roadmap, the how gives you tools to get down the road. Francine does a solid job of helping one discern their own personal map and a wide array of tools one may select from in her book. The word personal is key as well. It's not handing one a map, it is helping one build their own map. It is not saying 'These are the tools.' It is providing a wide selection of tools one may choose, or not choose to apply. Tools that you can decide if they might fit for you and if so, how they work for you. One of the things with EMDR that is so notable is that as a Therapist you are not 'doing' EMDR to someone. You help your Client build a map, identify and strengthen tools. Then you help them activate their own built in healing process and stay 'out of the way' other than helping them get unstuck if necessary. I often say when I'm working 'your brain knows what it needs to do to heal'. And it does! In interest of full disclosure, I am a Therapist who uses EMDR extensively. I as well volunteer for the humanitarian organization EMDR HAP as a Facilitator: ie.e. someone who does the hands on application of skills training for Therapists who work with underserved populations. EMDR has been a powerful tool for me, both as a Therapist and on the other side of the 'couch' receiving EMDR myself. EMDR is very robust. It appears that when one experiences overwhelming events it is 'stored' in the brain in a different form of memory than 'normal' memory. Often that memory stays in that form and links to other memories stored in a similar fashion. When that memory is evoked it is experienced like it is happening now, often with the power of many other past events 'plugged' in to it. EMDR seems to tap into a natural self healing mechanism so that once an event is processed to resolution, the 'energy' is out of it. It is difficult to convey the power of EMDR I have witnessed in my Client's lives, my own life and watching as Trainees work on very strong material as part of their training. That is what Francine has done an excellent job of conveying in her book. Understanding how overwhelming events may influence our life, friends, families and others lives, and the world is important. And having the tools to begin healing, allows one to begin alleviating suffering. As well to bring forth the gifts we all possess, that seem to be 'frozen' in the bad stuff from the past that replays like a dollar night horror movie, really brings a boundless cascade of good stuff to our lives and the world. What Francine does with this book is bring the good things that she has learned about healing over the years, in re both the map and the tools, to the reader. She is intentionally bringing the healing sparks in the dark into the life of all readers, not just those who are Therapists . That is her intent with this book, to make that healing more widely available in the world. We can choose to ignore those sparks, or light them in ourselves and thus bring them to the world. They are always there waiting for us when we are ready for the light. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2012 by Viking

  • Excellent companion for therapy work
I've been working with a therapist on a few issues, and we've been working on incorporating EMDR into my treatment (my therapist is trained in this modality). Reading this book on loan made me realize I had to purchase my own, and I've discussed several passages with my therapist which we were then able to incorporate into my treatment. The author is the creator of EMDR and this book gives some background for the layperson and discusses how to use techniques with and without a therapist. The author reminds the reader that if they're getting into topics or memories that are painful, complex, or overwhelming, that they should consult a counselor or other psychotheraputic professional. There are several writing exercises that could be used with or without a therapist, both as a way to examine your own thoughts and give a useful jumping-off point for sessions. Part of the book that spoke most to me was the discussion of C-PTSD. C-PTSD is Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - when the trauma was on-going and less a discrete event. Because EMDR is known so well for its use in treating PTSD from individual incidents (eg, an attack, an accident, etc) I wasn't sure how well it would apply to a more long-term/chronic issue that resulted in C-PTSD. This book helped give my therapist and me a better angle to pursue and it worked very well. I'd recommend actually doing the writing exercises when possible and making special note of standout incidents - whether you're in therapy or not. It may be worth talking to a therapist/counselor even if you feel like you have everything "dealt with", just in case there's a solution you haven't considered. All in all, excellent book and I'm so glad I read it. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2023 by Kristen

  • Great Book for Healing
This book really helped me with my trauma.
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2024 by Audrey

  • Purchased as a gift
This book was purchased as a gift. The recipient has found it to be very informative and helpful.
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2024 by Melissa Newman

  • Great book. Love EMDR!
EMDR unlocked a lot of items on my list. This workbook was wonderful. I definitely recommend it to anyone interested in therapy and EMDR.
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2024 by Amazon Customer

  • Best recommended for trauma survivors
I am an EMDR clinician. This book is my consistent recommendation since I work with our military. First of all this book explains trauma in a way that is very easy to relate to so people who cannot connect their experience with their symptoms can do so through learning what it does to your brain and body. Then it offers examples that anyone can relate to so they can see themselves to have hope and courage to try it. Then it offers simple protocols to experience the transformation of the symptoms which can be irrational fears, impulsive reactions, difficulty in getting yourself to do things, avoidance of situations that are implicit memories, meaning unconscious memories, opening the narrow thinking that trauma creates, and a relaxation of the tension to allow normal daily functioning and reduce feelings of the isolation with the big plus of reducing body limitations that re-enact the trauma. In talking to one service member I found out that this book had been mentioned at the VA he goes to. But without a personal recommendation it sounds like just another book and since trauma produces an inability of focus and concentration, trauma survivors are not eager to try it. When I tell them about it I get an enthusiastic response since many opportunities for recovery are not so available for various reasons. I have had my co-workers read the example of a service member who discovered many things about his trauma and made a recovery in such a short time. It gives all of us hope that those who try it will find the peace of releasing their traumatic experiences. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2013 by Lisa L

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