Abuse, Psychology & Counseling, Psychology, Sociology 

Sanctuary Trilogy 

This book contains author Sandra L. Bloom’s insights into trauma theory and care practices from fifteen years of running a psychiatric hospital unit called The Sanctuary, in which she and her colleagues treated adults who had been victims of abuse as children. Bloom summarizes research in trauma theory, including the effects of trauma on victims and the importance of interpersonal relationships in child development and overcoming trauma. Next, she explains how mental illness is socially constructed and how those constructions have evolved over time. She recounts her experiences with The Sanctuary, describing the specific steps that went into creating a therapeutic milieu conducive to treating adults who had been victims of abuse as children. At the end, she argues that the lessons she learned from The Sanctuary could be used to shape a saner, more humane society.