Who by Water: Reflections of a Tsunami Psychologist - Tapa blanda

On December 26, 2004, the famous Thai islands of Krabi and Phuket were converted in a flash from a tropical paradise of swimming, sunbathing and surfing to a paradise lost. Three killer tsunami waves slammed the islands’ shores leaving the usually pristine beaches and surrounding areas littered with soggy corpses and stunned survivors. Who was still alive or injured among the dead? Who had vanished in the waves? The author, Ronna Kabatznick, recounts her experience supporting traumatized survivors during the first week after the tragedy as they searched for parents, children, siblings, brides, grooms, and friends in hospitals and identified them in morgues. Who by Water is a candid account of life, death, compassion and courage interspersed with timeless wisdom from the world’s great Sages on how to embrace life’s eternal truths in the face of overwhelming grief and loss.

Ronna Kabatznick, Ph.D., is a social psychologist in private practice and specializes in helping clients deal with eating, depression, and relationship challenges. She lives in Berkeley, California, with her husband, Peter Dale Scott.