Trauma and Beyond The Mystery of Transformation

"Wirtz courageously and brilliantly undertakes the most truculent question: 'wither the soul after soul-murder?'. She summarizes the literature in the field, the range of methodologies, and provides numerous illustrations and case studies which demonstrate a realistic, hopeful, sequential approach to trauma integrating fragmented splinters. She illustrates the narrow passage between the necessity of ego-death, abiding a most difficult in-between, and attending the birth of an enlarged, more capacious ego state. Trauma and Beyond is not only a key contribution to the field, but has the makings of a classic study of the resilience of the soul in the face of even the most devastating traumata." - James Hollis, PhD; Jungian analyst and author

"In an extraordinary synthesis of the diverse facets of the psyche activated in trauma, Wirtz truly offers the reader a way 'beyond' suffering into wisdom. A lifetime of experience is woven into a revelatory tapestry of heart and soul. Reflecting an emerging paradigm in the 21st century, science and spirituality are brought into kindred relations through the author's courageous explorations of trauma. Anyone touched by trauma will benefit deeply from an encounter with this book." - Joe Cambray, PhD; past-President, IAAP

"In this insightful work, Wirtz asks us to take Jung's Red Book as a map or template for working with loss and trauma. If you are looking for guidance in clinical work in trauma and recovery or for guidance in your own recovery, you will find a treasure trove of riches here." - Polly Young-Eisendrath, PhD; author, The Resilient Spirit and Subject to Change

"This profoundly moving book is a major contribution to Jungian studies in this field. Wirtz has a remarkable ability to seamlessly synthesize the spiritual, archetypal, and clinical aspects of trauma. Her wise reflections on the transformative potentials of trauma, and the meaning of the suffering it produces, are an inspiration. This book is required reading for any psychotherapist working in this field." - Lionel Corbett, MD; Pacifica Graduate Institute; author, Psyche and the Sacred and The Religious Function of the Psyche