The Ancestor Syndrome: Transgenerational Psychotherapy and Hidden Links in the Family Tree
The Ancestor Syndrome: Transgenerational Psychotherapy and Hidden Links in the Family Tree Drawing on twenty years experience as a therapist and analyst, the author explains and provides clinical examples of her psychogenealogical approach to psychotherapy. She shows how, as mere links in a chain of generations, we may have no choice in having the events and traumas experienced by our ancestors visited upon us in our own lifetime. The book includes fascinating case studies to illustrate how her clients have conquered seemingly irrational fears, psychological and even physical difficulties by discovering and understanding the parallels between their own life and the lives of their forebears. The theory of "invisible loyalty" owed to previous generations, which may make us unwittingly re-enact their life events, is discussed in the light of ongoing research into transgenerational therapy.
Customer Review: Our ancestors do affect us.
The ancestor syndrome is well documented, Anne Schutzenberger painstakingly connects the various researchers and how they contributed to the field. As an alternative therapist I have learned that we are not just a product of our environment, but that our ancestors do pass down to us unresolved issues. Myself and all of my patients have some issues that can be traced to ancestors, even ancestors that died well before their birth.
Personally I believe the book should include more case studies, though the cases included are very interesting and well written. In my personal experience it is true that all one has to do is uncover and speak about the original ancestral trauma and the patient's problem most often is resolved.
Customer Review: Taking family trees to the next step
This is an excellent and thought provoking book, exploring the psychological impact of one's family tree.
It is the exploration of the present impact of past actions by family, caste, race, regions and nations.
Although of value to everyone, it is particularly important to those who have already begun to explore the question of 'where do I come from' in terms of genealogy.