The harm of dwelling on a traumatic past
Back in the 1970s, people in Britain were mystified by the enthusiasm of Americans – especially New Yorkers – for shrinks. Since then, the vogue for therapy has spread and advice from non-experts on surviving divorce, bereavement and bankruptcy is now commonplace and not always insightful. By contrast, Gwen Adshead, a psychiatrist who has specialised in trauma, is invariably rewarding. Her previous book, The Devil You Know (2021), on the minds of violent criminals, was written with Eileen Horne, a former drama producer – as is Unspeakable. I wasn’t entirely sure why Adshead needed a collaborator here, being so obviously well-read. There are references to Homer, Shakespeare, Dante, Keats and
