Carrie T. Ishee’s
WOW! WOMEN ON
WRITING TOUR
OF
Seduced Into
Darkness
Tour Begins March 23rd
Book Summary
Seduced
Into Darkness: Transcending My Psychiatrist’s Sexual Abuse is a vivid and
captivating story of hope for survivors of abuse as well as a case study in a
skilled manipulator’s tragic exploitation of his professional power.
This
poignant memoir chronicles the traumatic psychological abduction and sexual
exploitation of depressed college student Carrie Tansey at the hands of her
psychiatrist, Dr. Anthony Romano―thirty-one years her senior. For three years,
their secret “affair” was carefully calculated and controlled by Romano, as
Carrie’s mental and emotional health continued to deteriorate, bringing her
closer and closer to the edge.
Their
dual-relationship―clinical and clandestine―finally came to light when Carrie’s
suicide attempts landed her in a world-renowned psychiatric hospital.
Gradually, she began to reclaim her power, reported Romano to the state
licensing board, successfully sued him for malpractice, and testified before
the state legislature to help pass a law aimed at curbing such abuses.
As
Carrie tells her tale, it is a journey paralleling that of the mythical
archetype Persephone, the naive innocent who was abducted into darkness,
reemerged and regenerated herself, then fearlessly returned to the prison she
had fled, this time to help free others. Today, Carrie Ishee is a widely
respected art therapist and life coach as well as a teacher specializing in the
issues of ethics and boundaries for mental health professionals.
Print
Length: 286 Pages
Genre:
Memoir
Publisher:
Terra Nova Books
ISBN-10: 1948749483
ISBN-13: 9781948749480
Seduced Into Darkness is now available to purchase at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Thrift Books.
About the Author, Carrie T. Ishee
Carrie Ishee has been a student of healing, human potential,
and consciousness for more than 35 years. Her quest to know herself began in
college when a severe health crisis compounded by her psychiatrist’s seduction
and sexual abuse shattered her physically, emotionally, and spiritually. After
doctoral studies in clinical psychology, she worked as a behavioral therapist,
pursued a master’s degree in art therapy, and later completed a two-year
training program in life coaching. Her work today is focused on helping victims
such as she once was break free from the suffocating shroud of trauma.
Healing: A Journey from Outer to Inner Authority
Carrie T. Ishee, M.A.,
LPCC, LPAT, ATR-BC, PCC
“The journey of healing involves shifting from looking to
outer authority for answers to life’s questions to embracing inner
authority. Creating art helps this shift
in consciousness and allows us to become intentional creators in our lives.”
From the time we were little children, we were conditioned
to follow the rules, expectations, and guidance set by those we depended upon
for survival. This socialization process
kept us safe, grounded, and connected to a sense of community. Depending upon the family in which we were raised,
we each received varied messages concerning what was acceptable and rewarded,
and what had to be suppressed, eliminated and denied. Most often it was our inner world of thoughts,
feelings, yearnings, and the wisdom of our bodies which was banished to our
unconscious. We became alienated from
our true selves and estranged from our authentic voices.
Many civilizations have sought to answer our internal
questions with external answers. Religions
sprung up to advise us about the meaning of life, but propagated self-denying
beliefs and ideologies that kept people dependent and complacent. Science has been instrumental in answering
questions about how the world works, but fails to address the “whys”, or quench
our thirst for the deeper meaning that we crave. We look to politics to explore how the
collective should be governed, but politics do nothing to address individual struggles
with fear, aggression, greed, and quests for power.
Our modern educational system has focused on economics, the advancement
of technologies, and the improvement of our material lives, but has neglected
the exploration and connection with our internal lives. The arts allow the
expression of the soul, but are often the first to be cut when budgets are
slim. Training in art, music, and dance,
are often not considered “core” curriculum, further exposing our society’s
propensity for rational and external focus.
Even more tragic is the elevation of the “gifted” few to occupy the role
of “artist” while the rest of humanity is cut off from the creative impulses
that will help us stay connected, vital, and empowered. Egos of the “gifted ones” are fed, while the
medicine they could deliver to society is diluted by commercialization and
disconnection from the wisdom of the heart.
It often takes a crisis of some sort, whether it be a
trauma, a loss, mental or physical illness, or a brush with death, to force us
to tune into our inner world, to our souls.
In modern life, many of our conscious rites of passages have been
obliterated. We no longer trust the importance of facing darkness directly, in
order to grow and mature. Our current
medical world view often seeks to eliminate suffering through “quick fixes” of drugs
and surgery rather than encourage the deeper journey of getting to know one’s
body and listening to symptoms as messages from the soul.
The journey of healing one’s self is essentially the same as
the hero’s journey of spiritual awakening.
The path begins with the experience of emotional suffering arising from
the alienation of one’s authentic self.
To heal we must lean into the suffering, feel it, get to know it, embrace parts
of ourselves that have been repressed, cut off, or frozen in time. Much of what calls to us is beyond awareness
as lost parts call out for expression. We
must face our own inner darkness to become whole.
Creating art diminishes our defenses and opens our awareness
to the subconscious mind. Indeed, it
makes the “unconscious” conscious. With the internal “externalized” on paper
and manifested in images, things once confusing can become clear. Art makes the
journey real and palatable, breaking through denial and offering hints of next
steps. As Carl Jung said when speaking
of the soul’s journey – “the psyche speaks more fully in images than in words.”
Emotional wounds constrict the soul while art tells the
stories that need to be told, decreases emotional suffering, helps people
resolve conflicts and problems, and brings forward insights.
As an art therapist, I am continuously riveted by the power
of image making to unleash healing potential.
I find it inspiring (and fun!) to watch couples “open” up to each other
as they make images together. Such creations enable the expressions of their deeper,
non-rational selves. When art is
included on the journey, healing often takes on a more embodied, holistic flavor
than if words alone are shared. As
people reconnect with their creativity they feel less like victims of external
forces and more like creators who can choose a more nurturing, conscious path
forward.
Create art to gain
access to your own inner authority – leave the inner critic out of the
equation and be spontaneous, not methodical in expression to begin. Later you can spend more time on technique if
you want, but never let the internal judge stop you from expressing.
1. Draw (or paint)
your feelings – let yourself express them from your body. Are they coming from
your heart? Your gut? Your head?
Notice how your body sensations change once you express them. Do you feel more relaxed? More open? More connected?
**This is great for a feeling that your normally suppress
whether it be anger, fear, or joy…
2. Engage in a 30-day
art journal challenge – do an intuitive spontaneous image as a daily check
in. Journal from the image and let it
share its wisdom with you.
3. Ask a question of
your higher self in an image and then let yourself respond with another image. Don’t think about or evaluate the response –
allow the right brain to express without judgment.
4. Do a closed eye
drawing – letting yourself follow your own intuition as to where to put the
next line.
5. See where in your
body you hold any tightness or sensation – create from there letting your
intuition guide your expression.
6. Do a daily image
from your heart and journal in reaction – letting the wisdom of your heart
speak.
Follow these practices on a regular basis and you will come
to trust the wisdom rising from your deepest self.
-- Blog Tour Dates
March 23rd @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning
than a muffin? Stop by the Women on Writing blog The Muffin as well celebrate
the launch of the Seduced Into Darkness blog tour. Read an
interview with author Carrie T. Ishee and enter to win a copy of the book.
March 25th @ New England Book
Critic
Visit Victoria over at the New
England Book Critic and read her review of Carrie T. Ishee's powerful
book Seduced Into Darkness.
March 25th @ Choices
Visit Madeline's blog today and
read a poignant guest post by author Carrie T. Ishee. She talks about the signs
of a healthy relationship versus a toxic relationship and how to set boundaries
to see if a person is safe for you.
March 27th @ Writings and
Reviewings
Visit Judith's blog today where you
can read her review of Carrie T. Ishee's book Seduced Into Darkness.
March 30th @ Dog-Eared Days of
Summer
Stop by Caroline's blog and you can
read her review of Carrie T. Ishee's book Seduced Into Darkness.
April 2nd @ Coffee with Lacey
Grab your coffee and join Lacey as
she reviews Carrie T. Ishee's book Seduced Into Darkness.
April 6th @ Writing Through Life
Visit Amber's blog today and you
can read author Carrie T. Ishee's guest post. She talks about women's intuition
and paying attention to cues that arise from within. You can also enter to
win a copy of the book Seduced Into Darkness.
April 11th @ Bookworm Blog
Visit Anjanette's blog today and
read her review of Carrie T. Ishee's book Seduced Into Darkness.
April 13th @ World Of My
Imagination
Visit Nicole's blog today and read
Carrie T. Ishee's guest post talks about the power of art as medicine.
April 15th @ A Storybook World
Stop by Dierdra's blog and read
author Carrie T. Ishee's guest post about the personal growth and
transformation that happens as a result of trauma. A powerful post you don't
want to miss!
April 20th @ Teatime and Books
Visit Janet's blog today and read
Carrie T. Ishee's guest post about the journey of healing and how creating art
helps this process.
April 24th @ Angie Mangino Looks
at Books
Stop by Angie's blog today and you
can read her review of Carrie T. Ishee's book Seduced Into Darkness.
April 25th @ Teatime and Books
Visit Janet's blog today and you
can read her review of Carrie T. Ishee's book Seduced Into Darkness.
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