Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abusive Therapy (Book) - 10/6/2018 11:27:19 AM
I found Mending the shattered Mirror to be a powerful, compelling work. Reading of Analie Shepherd’s personal journey from broken childhood, into the adult world, accompanied by her group of ‘The Others’ is not just another multiple personality tome.
Readers travel with Ana along her journey from a childhood measured by somewhat benign parental neglect coupled with the unyielding, mistaken, insistence of Ana’s grandmother and aunt, her mother’s sibling, regarding how and why Ana’s mother was unable to parent her children.
Despite all; Analie survived the sadness and misery of childhood. Found joy, happiness and fulfillment in marriage and family before a terrible discovery, and overwhelming need for help, therapy, to aid in her dealing with the sad reality of what her life had become.
Thus, began the four-year journey during which time the reality of Analie’s mistreatment at the hands of a therapist determined to mold Ana into the role the therapist needed and not the role best for Analie ended successfully. That success came about in part to the role TELL responder Laurie provided as serve listener, reality coordinator, and most of all comrade who gently directed the way as Ana began taking back her individual authority as Analie moved from maltreated, weak victim to stronger, healthy survivor.’
This book, The Shattered Mirror A Journey of Recovery from Abusive Therapy is an outgrowth of the email relationship Ana and Laurie developed.
I found the book to be highly readable, although difficult to read at times simply because Ana’s heartache comes across so palpably raw, real and overpowering.
I am happy to recommend The Shattered Mirror A Journey of Recovery from Abusive Therapy lay persons and therapists alike. This book may serve to help another mishandled patient understand that the therapist chosen may not be the best to help her/his healing.
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Reviewed by Molly Reviews BOOKS molly martin
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To read full review please check My Den mj Hollingshead
Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abusive Therapy (Book) - 7/24/2018 3:38:27 PM
WOW!, was an amazing book. I could not put it down. This true story by Analie Shephard exposes a long-standing problem that has plagued the field of psychiatry and through her own struggles we are able to view the dark side of the issue. The riveting book, 'Mending the Shattered Mirror' is an excellent look into the world as Analie Shephard sees it, feels it, lives it...One of my favorite emails is from Laurie, where she states..."You will certainly not do anything to upset me...because neither you, nor I, is nuts." What a wonderful thing to say and has such strong meaning.
The renderings throughout the book are stunning and reflects the authors view of 'The Others' in great detail. My very favorite picture is towards the latter part of the book reflecting Little Ana being held in a supportive hand, finally.
I also felt it was tremendously meditative when one of the emails was signed from 'Meagan & co.' and later an email simply stating 'I have a voice.' What a simple but strong statement for the author to make.
T cannot recommend this book highly enough! An excellent, intriguing true story that brought Analie Shephard to eventually get to the point where she could say..."...within my own heart, dwells the strength, joy, peace, compassion and love that I sought for so many years."
A heart-wrenching but excellent read!
Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abusive Therapy (Book) - 7/20/2018 10:56:35 AM
Review of Analie Shepherd’s Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abuse in Therapy
Mending the Shattered Mirror is a touching narrative of immense courage and fortitude told with down to earth honesty. It’s certainly an eye opener for lay people like me with false preconceived notions about people suffering from D.I.D. and their therapists but it also can be a guide to professional therapists as they walk the tight rope between reaching out to a patient and controlling the patient; between understanding the patient’s needs and fulfilling one’s own needs through the patient; between drawing the proper boundaries on the one hand and infringing on the patient’s space on the other. Ms. Shepherd’s candid account of her path from victim to survivor shows us how emotional abuse can be at least as devastating as physical abuse.
Mending the Shattered Mirror takes us through Anna’s painful journey of recovery. In a simple and unpretentious manner, she recounts her terrible childhood and the causes of her D.I.D; the beautiful years after her marriage unplagued by D.I.D., her desparate efforts to cope when the horrific family crisis occurs, the exploitation and betrayal of her trust by Julia, her first therapist, and subsequently by other therapists; her interactions with Laurie Steiner, a responder from TELL and the tremendous therapeutic impact of her emails on Anna’s healing process; and her relentless quest for the right therapist. Through all this Anna emerges as a woman of integrity and honesty, of stolid strength and resolve to come to grip with her problems, to overcome her self- loathing and guilt and to reclaim herself.
by
Bertha Fernandes
Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abusive Therapy (Book) - 10/5/2017 7:29:21 PM
Mending the Shattered Mirror is a true account that tells of the brokenness of humanity, yet also the healing power of love and hope...Analie's bravery and vulnerability in telling her story and her tenacity in life and finding a sense of healing from deep life sorrow and trauma is an example we all could learn from. Truly a well-written and fascinating read.
Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abusive Therapy (Book) - 10/2/2017 4:20:44 PM
Mending Shattered Mirrors Monday, October 2, 2017
Shattered is an intimate revelation from, Analie, covering three generations. Beginning with her mother’s relationship with her father, the isolation of little girls from their mother, and the intervention from her aunts. After she encounters epic encounters with horrific results with several therapists, she learns about the molestation of her daughter, Emily.
One follows the painful recovery process, with surprising obstacles, which were h overcome by the writer’s internal fortitude , and her willingness to find harmony and a place of peace in her heart. This story is meant to be read slowly with care, as much care as it takes to handle a Robin’s egg. One needs time to absorb and understand this courageous battle, Analie, displays to take care of herself and her family.
I admired the presentation of the book, including pictures drawn by Ana to express her emotions, and state of mind at the time.
Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abusive Therapy (Book) - 9/24/2017 5:51:57 AM
Amalie Shepherd’s book Mending the Shattered Mirror A Journey of Recovery from Abuse in Therapy has written an honest, gut-wrenching account of picking up the pieces of her splintered self after being repeatedly betrayed by a licensed professional therapist, who is mandated by her profession to support clients through holding strong boundaries and providing good therapy.
The book not only reveals adult Amalie’s thoughts and feelings, but it shares the feelings and thoughts of Analie’s many child parts, who also came into therapy with her. Analie’s inner world of child states are still paralyzed in want and need of a loving mother instead of the one she had who repeatedly rejected her instead of caring for and offering enough unconditional love that every child needs in order to develop into a healthy, mature adult. How devastating that Amalie’s therapist ended up repeating what Analie’ s inconsistent, devaluing, and controlling mother did to her.
Thankfully, Analie reached out to TELL, Therapy Expoitation Link Line, an organization created in 1980 to address the many abuses that can and do, sadly, happen in therapy. Through this organization Analie meets Laurie, a woman who, herself, had been exploited in therapy. A flood of emails go back and forth that are sharing, revelatory, stabilizing, devastating, challenging, and much more as Analie struggles to let go of her need of her former abusive therapist to whom her parts had become unhealthily bonded. Not only has Analie been victimized by her therapist, but, so, too, have her child parts who are still reeling in different feeling states creating an internal world that Analie cannot always manage. Thankfully, Analie’s relationship with Laurie becomes a stabilizer, a venue through which she finds comfort, truth, wisdom, and courage to stay the course to heal herself and have all of her be fully present in the here and now, instead of repeatedly regressing and reliving her relationship with her abusive therapist and shatteringly painful childhood.
The book brings to life the inner world of a person with Disassociated Identity Disorder living with fragmented child parts that have yet to integrate into maturity. While reading the several email exchanges with Laurie, the Responder from TELL, the content of the emails brought me to tears, outrage, disgust, hopefulness and so many other human emotions.
Tender is the heart of a child; abusive childhoods of neglect, victimization, violation, and rejection shatter the ego into a million pieces which can take a life time to find, heal, reassemble into coherence, and mature. Amalie’s story, her regressions to abject pain that feels like it will be ever-present, seemingly last forever, touched my heart and soul.
Therapy can be a Godsend to adults soul-murdered as children by dysfunctional, abusive parenting, but only if the therapist is professional, keeps good boundaries, shows humanity, and focuses not on promises and reassurances, because then the client will believe the therapist, and become too dependent, instead of finding one’s own voice and being able to say, think, and feel free to say what is real and authentic at any session toward any subject or issue without fear the therapist will retaliate with dismissal, crossing boundaries, or inappropriate therapeutic interventions.
Mending the Shattered Mirror A Journey of Recovery from Abuse is a recommended read to any person who has experienced exploitation and damaging interactions in therapy. The book should also be a mandatory read for all therapists. I found the book to be extremely moving and very powerful!
Shadows Falling (Poetry) - 9/28/2018 3:15:43 PM
poignant read
never stop writing!
m
Shadows Falling (Poetry) - 5/30/2018 7:30:12 AM
We have all, I imagine have travedled down that deceitful road, John. Nothing to do but keep on keeping on, for there is salvation in the most unsuspected places.
Shadows Falling (Poetry) - 4/16/2018 7:35:06 PM
To gasp dye moonlight quill. leaves pages to grasp our Uni-Verse slip stream stain, poet imprint. Enjoyed the path, your creation embarked on, where every poet has a different journey.
Shadows Falling (Poetry) - 3/18/2018 8:10:16 PM
Very profound and solid use of words that make me feel this in my gut! I like this poem a lot! Great work.
- Zach. Thanks Analie
Shadows Falling (Poetry) - 3/2/2018 9:36:40 AM
Despair was never written better. Don't close your eyes after the sun goes down.
Ron
Shadows Falling (Poetry) - 3/2/2018 7:02:35 AM
VERY NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Liana Margiva
Shadows Falling (Poetry) - 3/2/2018 6:25:52 AM
a fulcrum is what makes us feel hopeful. . . however, the nothingness you've described so touchable brings us what we deserve once we stop be afraid of it. Cheers, alex
Shadows Falling (Poetry) - 3/1/2018 7:55:11 AM
Interesting write. Enjoyed.
Shadows Falling (Poetry) - 3/1/2018 5:32:11 AM
A moving, palpable, insight. You've touched on something every human-being struggles with on occasion, or regularly. A happy hopeful life cannot be without a measure of darkness, fear, and struggle. The words happy and hopeful would lose their meaning if they were not balanced by the others. I have found it is far better to take things as they come with patience, equanimity, and fervent daily prayer; which has helped keep me sane. Peace... rlc
Pavane for a Grandchild (Poetry) - 2/28/2018 4:19:36 PM
Absolutely beautifully written. This is why I love poetry so much. This is wonderful. Thanks!
Pavane for a Grandchild (Poetry) - 12/12/2017 10:31:11 PM
A Powerful poem about the power of love. The GREATEST power of all, thank God! Amen!
Pavane for a Grandchild (Poetry) - 12/12/2017 9:16:39 AM
ahhh grandchildren they are the best
Pavane for a Grandchild (Poetry) - 12/12/2017 7:04:35 AM
I was almost singing as I read through this beautifully paced phrasing with so many phrases that are priceless. Your grandchild is very fortunate to have a grandmother with a such a beautiful poetic writing style. May this one be repeated many times over the ensuing years… Perhaps at birthday parties.
Ron
Pavane for a Grandchild (Poetry) - 12/12/2017 6:51:20 AM
If I had known grand kids would be so much fun, I would've had them first. Spoil them rotten and then send 'em home.
Hope (Poetry) - 5/3/2017 6:42:26 AM
There is a wispiness about this, an eerie feeling that permeates this poem with sadness that doesn't quite get removed by reading. I'm so glad when I hear that hope creeps in in the end.
Ron
Hope (Poetry) - 5/3/2017 6:39:59 AM
Love the way this progresses.
Ending with ... just when you least expect it....
Lovely gentle poem of the human condition expressed through your eloquent words.
The Shattered Mirror (Poetry) - 2/23/2017 8:20:34 AM
Two sides of you? From all aspects, you seem to be very healthy and happy with your life. So, you are either a very good author who can see into the other side from experiencing others' pain, or you really have experienced both sides of life.
Ron
The Shattered Mirror (Poetry) - 2/22/2017 7:44:41 PM
2 22 2017
Now just turn around walk away
Do not look back...
TRASK....
