Alex Monk on Trauma and the Supernatural: Working from the Curse Position

Exploring the Intersection of Trauma, Psychotherapy, and the Supernatural with Alex Monk

Check Out Alex's Book ajnd Website: https://alexmonktherapy.com/

Alex's Daimon article he mentions: https://alexmonk.substack.com/p/the-daemonic-divine

In a fascinating new podcast episode, psychotherapist and author Alex Monk delves into the complex relationship between relational trauma, unconscious phantasies, and experiences of the supernatural. Drawing upon his groundbreaking book "Trauma and the Supernatural in Psychotherapy," Monk introduces the concept of the "curse position" - a psychological state in which individuals feel trapped by a sense of chronic misfortune and self-sabotage.

Throughout the interview, Monk illuminates how developmental trauma can interact with a "daimonic uncanny," leaving individuals feeling haunted and helpless. He shares rich case illustrations and draws upon fields as diverse as psychoanalysis, anthropology, and esoteric philosophy to outline a framework for understanding and working with clients who struggle with uncanny experiences.

Some of the key topics covered in this wide-ranging discussion include:

• The role of unconscious phantasies in perpetuating the "curse position"
• How therapists can navigate the tension between "magical thinking" and "magical consciousness"
• The potential for engagement with the supernatural to be a source of empowerment and healing for trauma survivors
• The importance of therapists cultivating the capacity to tolerate uncanny and irrational experiences in the consulting room
• The historically conflicted relationship between psychoanalysis and the occult

Monk's work offers a fresh and nuanced perspective on the interplay between trauma, altered states of consciousness, and culturally marginalized experiences. He advocates for an approach that neither dismisses the ontological reality of uncanny phenomena nor romanticizes "magical thinking," but rather meets clients in the full depth and complexity of their lived experience.

For therapists interested in learning more about working at the intersection of trauma and the supernatural, this episode is a must-listen. Monk's innovative framework has implications for clinicians of many orientations who are grappling with how to integrate spiritual and anomalous experiences into trauma-informed treatment.

Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, this conversation will challenge you to expand your conception of the possible and re-examine your assumptions about the the role of the uncanny in psychological healing. Tune in to discover a cutting-edge approach to one of the most overlooked dimensions of trauma treatment.

Key Phrases: trauma and the supernatural, curse position, relational trauma, unconscious phantasies, daimonic uncanny, magical thinking, magical consciousness, uncanny experiences, anomalous experiences, psychoanalysis and the occult, spiritual bypassing, dissociation, mythology in psychotherapy, mythic reality, esoteric philosophy, spirituality in treatment, haunted states, self-sabotage

 

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