Accepting The Troll Underneath the Bridge: Overcoming Our Self-Doubts - Softcover

Just who is "the troll"? The troll is the disgruntled, negative voice within each of us that works tirelessly to remind us of our deepest fears of inadequacy. As we attempt to better ourselves or our lot in life--that is, to cross any bridge--it is the troll underneath that bridge that belittles and taunts us until, too battered to go on, we return to the "safe" side of the bridge. The troll is well equipped to do battle, employing a full arsenal of tricks to promote self-doubt and keep us as prisoners of low self-esteem. Rather than suggest that we wage war with the troll, however, Terry Cooper--through a sound blend of psychology and spirituality--encourages us to understand the ways of the troll, the ways we inadvertently aid and abet the work of the troll and the ways we can handle our conflict with the troll. Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Cooper helps us realize that it is our acceptance of the troll as part of ourselves that ultimately enables us to disarm the troll. With this realization, we no longer resist grace; we are on the way to healing our troll.

Terry D. Cooper (Ed.D., human development counseling, Vanderbilt University; Ph.D., theology and psychotherapy, St. Louis University) is professor of psychology at St. Louis Community College--Meramec and adjunct professor of religious studies at Webster University. He is the author of Sin, Pride Self-Acceptance.