What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing

— Written by Bruce Perry, M.D., Ph.D., and Oprah Winfrey in 2021, 298 pages

—Review written by Heather Gonzales, 2022

Quick Review & Considerations:

  • Excellent source for trauma informed learning, that is very reader friendly, which has been mentioned by a number of adoptive parents as well

  • Some helpful topics include dissociation (ch 6), cutting and self-harm (ch 6), generational trauma and healing (ch. 5)…

  • Cites own research to support writing, no other cited research included

  • The format is in conversation style Between Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey’s, Distinguishes between Perry and Winfrey’s words

  • Although the majority of the content pertains to adoptees and previous experiences of trauma, connections to adoption are not directly communicated for the reader 

  • Offers helpful insight revolving around parenting and how we were parented

  • Includes charts and graphs to be easily referenced later

 

Please Note:

Listing books here is not intended to indicate absolute agreement with all content, techniques, suggestions, word choices, or other work by the authors- but to indicate a large portion of information that was found helpful. It is recommended that whatever you read, no matter who recommends it or writes it, that readers use critical thinking and that content is reviewed in a thoughtful, contemplative, and reflective manner.

List and comments reflects the individual opinions of Heather Gonzales and are written from the perspective of an adoptee, for those looking for resources for adoptees or adoptive families specifically. Lists are not necessarily a reflection of all staff or Encompass Adoptees as a whole.