The text discusses the profound impact of trauma on the psyche, emphasizing how it can lead to the development of certain defensive mechanisms. It highlights that traumatic experiences are stored in the unconscious mind, creating dissociative states. These states can manifest as emotional numbness or disruptions in identity, pushing individuals to cope in maladaptive ways. The author stresses the importance of understanding these mechanisms in therapy to facilitate healing. Kalsched argues that the self-protective...