Patricia Hamilton

Monarchs, Butterfly Town, U.S.A., Pacific Grove, California is an inspiring collection of images and writings spanning decades of the physical interactions and emotional relationships of individuals-locally and throughout the world-with millions of monarch butterflies within the Sanctuary and its environs. ***Monarch butterflies arrive yearly to the Monarch Grove Sanctuary, 250 Ridge Road, and remain for a season spanning October to March. Images capture monarchs in the Sanctuary and around town: in flight, napping, sleeping, drinking nectar, resting, and mating. Visuals of the flora and fauna, land and under the sea, give an overview of the entire habitat they - and we - enjoy.***Text from two sources weave throughout to support and enrich images and imaginations: "The Butterfly Trees," by Lucia Shepardson, published in 1914, recounts her 16 years observing the monarchs. She intimately acquaints us with these unique insects, and the publication of her book brought national and international acclaim to the little town of Pacific Grove.*** "The Miracle That is Pacific Grove," a booklet prepared for the first Butterfly Days Celebrations in 1939, presents a much different venue and program than we participate in today. What remains consistent is our joyous welcome for the monarchs as they arrive.***Commentaries accompanying contributions lend a third element that underlies Pacific Grove's enduring love for the monarch: A very brief, personal encounter with a living entity that consistently arrives, to astound and epitomize the process and the rewards of a transformative/evolving nature that we, too, share with them. Enjoy

Attachment parenting is an increasingly popular style of childrearing that emphasises ‘natural’ activities such as extended breastfeeding, bedsharing and babywearing. Such parenting activities are framed as the key to addressing a variety of social ills. Parents’ choices are thus made deeply significant with the potential to guarantee the well-being of future societies. Examining black mothers’ engagements with attachment parenting, Hamilton shows the limitations of this neoliberal approach. Unique in its intersectional analysis of contemporary mothering ideologies, this outstanding book fills a gap in the literature on parenting culture studies, drawing on black feminist theorizing to analyse intensive mothering practices and policies. Black Mothers and Attachment Parenting is shortlisted for the 2021 BSA Philip Abrams Memorial Prize.

In the first book of JK Rowling's Harry Potter series, named The Philosopher's Stone (1997), Harry is on his way to Hogwart's School of Wizardry. He has to first go to Platform 93/4 to catch the Hogwart's Express., Harry meets up with the Weazleys and watches as the children, with their trolleys, head straight for the big brick pillar that stands between platforms 9 and 10. Just as they reach the wall and disaster appears imminent, the children disappear. Mrs Weazley advises Harry that if he is a bit scared, 'then it is best to get a bit of a run-up'. Harry follows her advice, and finds himself looking at the Hogwart's Express as it builds up a head of stream, ready for the journey.I don't know how often, when working with a client, I have felt just like Harry. I have to trust the process, get a bit of a 'run-up', breathe into the feeling ... and just keep going..In the chapters of this book, you will meet the very first person I recognized as dealing with dissociation and her alter-egos (aspects) who introduced themselves to me. This case taught me a lot about what to do - and, at the time, what not to do. My views have changed over time and some of my 'rules' at the time have since been modified, because the basic premise I come back to is that I can't take a person anywhere unless I meet them where they are: forming a solid basis of trust which in turn allows alter-egos to reveal themselves to me and my client, who is often not even aware of their existence.I invite you to join me on this - and other - journeys through Dissociative Identity Disorder.* * * * *"Pat tells a powerful story of how she learned to hold space for a vulnerable client. She describes the deep effort required to hold that space: to not lead, nor risk distorting the story, nor cloud it with her own curious wonderings. Throughout this image-laden documentation of a client's journey, Pat weaves a candid account of her struggle with self-ownership, boundary setting, and a respectful wrestling to stay silent, together with sufficient explanation of her stance for others to seek to emulate it. Those were the biggest and best takeaways from a book that makes a unique contribution to the search for healing." - David Jones, Trauma Survivor, Cognition Researcher* * * * *"This book succinctly outlines the nature of dissociation in its milder forms stressing that it is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. Patricia Hamilton has provided understanding and guidance to readers, whether they are clients, potential clients or therapists. The inclusion of examples of dialogues with a number of her clients, highlights the delicacy and sensitivity of this vitally important work, where '... working with whoever is in the room' becomes an essential, guiding principle. The author manages to both encourage skilled therapists to engage with clients experiencing dissociation, and also strongly advises them of the critical need to work, themselves, with a competent and experienced supervisor. - Diana Scott, Psychologist, Music and Imagery Psychotherapist

Attachment parenting is an increasingly popular style of childrearing that emphasises ‘natural’ activities such as extended breastfeeding, bedsharing and babywearing. Such parenting activities are framed as the key to addressing a variety of social ills. Parents’ choices are thus made deeply significant with the potential to guarantee the well-being of future societies. Examining black mothers’ engagements with attachment parenting, Hamilton shows the limitations of this neoliberal approach. Unique in its intersectional analysis of contemporary mothering ideologies, this outstanding book fills a gap in the literature on parenting culture studies, drawing on black feminist theorizing to analyse intensive mothering practices and policies. Black Mothers and Attachment Parenting is shortlisted for the 2021 BSA Philip Abrams Memorial Prize.