In this book Vivian Broughton brings together all the important theoretical concepts on the topics of trauma, trauma survival and identity, developed by Professor Dr Franz Ruppert over the past 30 years, known as Identity Oriented Psychotrauma Therapy (IOPT). This book is likely to be of interest to therapists and professionals who work with people and their life difficulties, as well as anyone interested in understanding themselves better. Trauma underlies most of people’s life problems, in particular traumas that happen very early in life. For the newly created infant the experience of not being wanted, not being seen, welcomed, loved and valued for who he or she really is, makes for a deeply devastating start to life. These early traumatic experiences then stay, buried deep in the psyche, and inform and influence the person’s ability to function as an adult, to feel confident, form good relationships and be happy. The essence of living a good life is based on our ability to know who we are, and trauma, more than anything else, is what disrupts and even destroys this ability. Vivian is a Gestalt psychotherapist with over 30 years’ experience. She has worked with IOPT concepts and the Intention Method therapeutic practice for over 15 years. She brings to this book her long experience as a psychotherapist and as an IOPT Psychotrauma therapist, together with her own particular thinking about Ruppert’s work.