Transforming Historical Trauma through Dialogue - Paperback

by David S. Derezotes (Author)

Today there is evidence that most minority groups in the United States suffer from symptoms related to intergenerational transmission of collective historical trauma. For those with additional mental health issues, treatment can become complicated unless underlying historical hostilities are addressed.

This practical text, by David S. Derezotes, helps readers understand the causes and treatment of historical trauma at an individual, group, and community level and demonstrates how a participatory, strengths-based approach can work effectively in its treatment. The first to offer a combination of theory, literature review, and practice knowledge on dialogue, this book begins with a definition of historical trauma and transformation, includes the dialogue necessary to aid in transformation (such as self-care, self-awareness and professional self- development). The author proposes six key models of dialogue practice--psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, experiential, transpersonal, biological, and ecological--and shows how these models can be used to help transform sociohistorical trauma in clients. He then applies these six dialogue models to five common practice settings, including work with community divides, social justice work, peace and conflict work, dialogues with populations across the lifespan, and community therapy.

Author Biography

David Derezotes is currently Professor of Social Work at the University of Utah, where he is Chair of the Practice and Mental Health domains and Director of the Bridge Training Clinic. He is also serves as Professor in the University Peace and Conflict Studies, Religious Studies, and Honors College. He has a PhD in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley and a MSW from San Diego State University. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Utah, where he has worked with the Indian Walk In Center and the Family Counseling Center. He currently is involved in many dialogue projects, including Bridging the Religious Divide, the Dialogue Training Group, and the White Male Privilege Group. He has published numerous textbooks and articles, including texts on Advanced Generalist Social Work Practice (2000), Revaluing Social Work: Implications of Emerging Science and Technology (2005), and Spiritually Oriented Social Work Practice (2006).