A Shining Affliction by Annie G. Rogers essay

The book A Shining Affliction written by Annie G. Rogers, a young clinical psychologist, helps to understand the psychological problems of abused and abandoned children and uncover their deepest secrets.  I am greatly impressed by the story of Ben, Annie G. Rogers’ young patient, and the way the author deals with this boy. She knows how to keep Ben calm. Moreover, she tries to solve her own personal problems and it is rather interesting for me to understand her emotional state and feelings. This book helped me to better understand the work of psychoanalysts and psychotherapists and the importance to study human behavior. Ben’s story gave me an opportunity to find the reasons why some people act inadequately. Annie’s personal notes that could be found at the end of the chapters helped me to realize the way of thinking of psychoanalysts.

Moreover, the book A Shining Affliction evoked a lot of thoughts concerning the impact of mentally ill patients on the people around them. I have found that Annie’s healing psychotherapeutic relationships both as a psychotherapist and as a client helped her to identify the damage of her past traumatic relationships. I liked the way Annie demonstrates her psychotherapist’s sense of vulnerability which in many cases has the potential to bring either harm or healing to the patient. I think that it is necessary to pay attention to her advice to psychotherapists and psychoanalysts: “If it is possible to remain open to our fears and make reparations for our mistakes, our vulnerability can be used in the service of healing”.