More than Magic - Page 6


Cammie herself might agree that these moments aren't always so instantaneous. But magical moments did take place in her world: in the sheer, splendid humanity of her foster parents and her doctors and helpers. By taking off their masks, breaking roles, and becoming more human, they performed magic: they gave more than even they could have imagined to a fellow being. As a result, a brutalized child who seemed wild, abandoned, and hopeless found a way to create a normal life for herself. What's magical is how some people are willing to work that hard for another person. This sets a lofty (and lovely) bar for every therapist.

I understand that magic requires real work. But part of me still wants to cut to the chase and just write my letter to that great whomever. Yes, and get a magical response back that'll change my life, too.

Richard Handler is a radio producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Toronto, Canada. Contact: rhandler@sympatico.ca. Letters to the Editor about this department may be e-mailed to letters@psychnetworker.org.

Magical Moments of Change: How Psychotherapy Turns Kids Around
Lenore Terr
W. W. Norton. 304 pp. ISBN: 978-0-70530-0

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