Therapy and the Curated Childhood: The Use and Abuse of Trauma Narratives in Parental Estrangement

Joshua Coleman explores the evolution of psychotherapy and the changing definition of trauma and its consequences for the rising incidence of parental estrangement. His study focuses on the pervasive use of trauma narratives, especially those describing parental neglect and abuse, in contemporary psychological therapy. Coleman questions the transformation of therapists into modern-day high priests. The increased influence of psychologists coupled with a proliferation of new psychiatric diagnoses and trauma-related concepts has led to the heightened emphasis on self-discovery and its dominance over cultural influences and other factors as responsible for unhappiness. Among the consequence of this therapeutic vision is an American society that offers less community vision and exaggerates individualistic explanations. Coleman also criticizes the reduced threshold for defining what is traumatic, thus providing the potential for false memories cultivated in therapeutic settings. Therapists have encouraged an escalating blame culture when examining familiar relationships, which contributes to rising incidences of parental estrangement. In conclusion, Coleman questions the evolution of society's preoccupation with childhood trauma as a means of explaining adult shortcomings and failures.