The Past in the Present: Therapy Enactments and the Return of Trauma

In this review of The Past in the Present: Therapy Enactments and the Return of Trauma the bottom line is clear: this book is best suited for practicing therapists, trainees and clinicians who want a deeper clinical understanding of how trauma shapes therapeutic exchange. The contributors bring together psychoanalytic and humanistic perspectives to show how enactments function as symbolic crises in the therapy room, and the work is strongest when it connects detailed clinical vignettes to conceptual ideas. Readers seeking practical case material and thoughtful reflection on interpersonal dynamics will find real value here.

Key Features

• Integrative perspectives: The book brings together contemporary ideas from both the psychoanalytic and humanistic traditions to broaden clinical thinking about enactments.
• Focus on trauma: Contributors examine how prior trauma can be re-experienced and enacted in therapy and how that shapes therapeutic turning points.
• Clinical material: A wealth of case examples illuminate how enactments appear in real sessions and how therapists respond.
• Therapeutic implications: Chapters explore both creative and destructive outcomes of enactments, helping clinicians anticipate risks and opportunities.
• Conceptual clarity: The text conceptualizes enactments as symbolic interactions where client and therapist issues become unconsciously entwined.

Who It's For

The Past in the Present is aimed at psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, psychiatry trainees and advanced counselling students who encounter complex interpersonal dynamics and trauma-related enactments in their practice. Its clinical focus and theoretical integration make it especially helpful for clinicians who already have foundational training in either psychoanalytic or humanistic approaches and want to deepen their case conceptualization skills.

It is less suitable for readers seeking a step-by-step treatment manual or for general audiences without clinical background; lay readers may find some material dense and oriented toward professional practice rather than self-help.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Rich clinical vignettes provide concrete examples of enactments in practice.
• Brings together psychoanalytic and humanistic viewpoints for a fuller clinical picture.
• Helps clinicians understand how trauma can become a turning point in therapy.

Cons

• Material is focused on clinical theory and case work, so it may not serve as a practical how-to manual for immediate techniques.

Specifications

Title	The Past in the Present: Therapy Enactments and the Return of Trauma
Authors / Editors	David Mann, Valerie Cunningham
Scope	Integration of psychoanalytic and humanistic therapy traditions
Primary focus	Enactments and the role of trauma in therapy
Content type	Clinical essays and detailed case material
Intended audience	Therapists, trainees, clinicians

Our Verdict

The Past in the Present is a thoughtful, clinically rich collection that is well worth the time of practicing clinicians and advanced trainees who want to deepen their understanding of enactments and trauma. Its integration of theory and case material makes it good value for professionals seeking reflective, practice-oriented reading rather than quick procedural guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book include case examples?
Yes. The book uses a wealth of clinical material throughout to illustrate how enactments present in therapy.

Is it suitable for beginners?
It is best suited to clinicians or trainees with some background in therapy, as the writing assumes familiarity with clinical concepts.

What therapeutic approaches are represented?
The volume brings together contemporary ideas from both psychoanalytic and humanistic traditions to examine enactments and trauma.