W. W. Norton & Company The Haunted Self: Structural Dissociation & Trauma Treatment

The Haunted Self by W. W. Norton & Company provides therapists and mental health professionals with essential guidance for understanding and treating chronic traumatisation through the lens of structural dissociation theory. This Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology volume addresses the complex clinical reality that trauma survivors often present with multiple overlapping symptoms, comorbid conditions, and serious difficulties in daily functioning and relationships. The book explores how unresolved trauma manifests as intrapsychic conflicts and maladaptive coping strategies, helping clinicians recognise when patients mask their distress behind apparent normality. Rather than viewing fragmented presentations as diagnostic confusion, this work reframes structural dissociation as a coherent explanatory model for understanding how the mind protects itself from overwhelming experiences. Therapists will gain practical approaches to assessment and treatment that acknowledge both the complexity of trauma recovery and the interconnection between neurobiology and psychological healing.