El yo encantado: Disociación estructural y el tratamiento de la traumatización crónica (Serie Norton sobre neurobiología interpersonal)

Why 'The Haunted Self' is essential for your practice?

Understanding structural dissociation is fundamental for addressing chronic trauma. This book, written by Onno van der Hart, Ellert R. S. Nijenhuis, and Kathy Steele, offers a theoretical and clinical model that has transformed the psychotherapy of patients with dissociative disorders. The work integrates attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and trauma psychology, providing tools for the diagnosis and treatment of pathological dissociation. Its focus on the structure of personality divided into emotional parts and apparently normal parts helps clinicians understand the patient's subjective experience and plan effective interventions.

Featured content

The book is structured around the model of structural dissociation of personality. Its key contents include:

• Definition and differentiation of structural dissociation from other disorders.
• Description of the parts of the personality: apparently normal part (ANP) and emotional part (EP).
• Phases of treatment: stabilization, trauma treatment, and integration.
• Clinical applications for dissociative identity disorder and other trauma-related disorders.
• Integration of interpersonal neurobiology and attachment theory.

Who this book is for

This work is aimed at mental health professionals who work with traumatized patients: psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers. It is also a valuable reference for postgraduate students and psychiatry residents seeking to deepen their understanding of complex trauma treatment. Its technical level makes it suitable for experienced clinicians, but also accessible for those new to the field of dissociation.

What readers say

Mental health professionals value this work for its conceptual depth and clinical utility. Many consider it essential reading for understanding the experience of patients with dissociative identity disorder. Some readers highlight that, although the book was published some years ago, it remains an up-to-date reference in the field. Others point out that its technical approach requires an advanced level of knowledge, but that it rewards the effort with a comprehensive understanding of structural dissociation.

Frequently asked questions about structural dissociation

What is structural dissociation?

It is a model that describes how personality is divided into parts due to chronic trauma, with an apparently normal part that tries to function in daily life and emotional parts that contain traumatic experiences.

Does this book replace clinical training?

No. It is a reference work that complements training and clinical practice. Applying its contents requires supervision and clinical experience.

Yes, the structural dissociation model applies to complex PTSD and other trauma-related disorders, offering a guide for treatment.

This book is an academic reference work; it does not replace professional assessment. Consult a specialist for any mental health condition.