Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Stories for pre-contemplation
Investing in others : relationships
Weighing the risks and benefits of change
Tuning in : parent-child interaction
Repeated exposure to domestic violence
Self-destructive behavior
Confronting entitlement
Stories for contemplation
Peeling away defenses
Safety for self and others
The blame game
Self-protection
Thinking and planning in relationships
Relationship roles
The cycle of abuse
Beyond sex to intimacy
Stores for preparation
The powerful pull of the past
Having the right tools: survival skills
Facing your own monsters
Identifying and expressing feelings
Change takes time
Codependency
What comes next? : planning ahead
Recognizing danger
Opening your heart
Expecting the worst : fight or flight
Stories for action
Understanding PTSD
Telling your story : trauma narratives
Getting past the obstacles
The whole is greater : becoming new and different
Mood management
Seeking approval : attachment disruption
Cleaning up addictive behaviors
Trauma reminders
Regulating affect
Speaking the same language
Avoiding blind spots
Giving birth to something remarkable
Unconditional positive self-regard
Stories for maintenance
Leaving the past behind
Preventing relapse
Becoming whole
Appendix a: mindfulness overview and narratives
Appendix b: adult attachment questions
References
Index
About the author.