Visualizing solutions

In a crisis, some people successfully use stress management techniques or other tactics to deal with their problems, while others might fall apart, lacking the tools that they need to help them cope.

In Something to Hold Onto, Kate Robson describes some of the practices readers can use to help them get through difficult times. Reading this book and putting the techniques into practice can help people find the resources they need to deal with the stresses that they encounter — either individually or as a family.

Robson is a registered psychotherapist who has worked for over 10 years with parents of newborns at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Toronto as a family support specialist. She has led workshops and conferences in Canada and around the world, and oversees the largest NICU support network in Canada while also leading a weekly support group for parents and caregivers.

For Robson, visualization is key to understanding and getting through trauma. Her book includes various ideas that might help readers to release tension and lessen trauma as they imagine anything from an old trunk or a stable full of horses to a mountain or a garden to help them identify and understand their emotions. In each chapter, the author introduces the image and explains how readers can use the idea to help get them through their pain.

Each chapter ends with a section called “Try This,” in which the author gives practical advice on how to use the technique. Brief examples of each method are scattered throughout the text, giving readers a small glimpse into how the theories work out in practice. With these examples and the techniques Robson describes, readers can gain a sense of how to move past the issues that hold them back.

As Robson notes in her introduction, “images and metaphors can help us free ourselves from a constricting thought or judgment, and can help us get to know and respect our own experience a bit more.” Throughout the book, she urges readers to acknowledge their emotions and reactions to trauma rather than trying to suppress their thoughts.

Many will likely find at least parts of the book useful. Although the examples the author gives are helpful, lengthier case studies might be useful for those who want a deeper understanding of the techniques Robson discusses. Concepts such as mindfulness or taking a pause from a stressful situation or relationship, for example, could benefit from a more thorough examination of the techniques necessary for their use.

Despite these limitations, Something to Hold Onto is a good starting point for understanding people’s responses to trauma; both people in distress and people caring for them could find useful points to consider.

The writing style in Robson’s book is casual, and addressing the readers directly and appealing to their common experiences makes the book feel personal. Although some readers might find parts of the book somewhat repetitive, Something to Hold Onto offers worthwhile insights into how people can deal with the crises in their lives in a positive way.

Susan Huebert is a Winnipeg writer and pet sitter.