Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo of the day.

New book by Ciaramicoli explores overcoming pain, trauma

FILE PHOTO

Hopkinton psychologist/author Dr. Arthur Ciaramicoli has amassed significant recognition over his career of more than 45 years. He holds doctorates in education and psychology, has published more than a dozen books (booksbydrciaramicoli.com) and has served on the faculty of Harvard Medical School. Ciaramicoli also has shared his expertise on CNN, “Good Morning America” and NPR.

Perhaps Ciaramicoli’s crowning achievement is a title he gave himself in his latest book. He recently published “Soul Doctor: Rewiring the Mind to Reveal the Strengths Suffering Concealed.”

“I almost didn’t write this book,” Ciaramicoli recently shared with the Independent.

He explained that today’s culture is obsessed with instant gratification and quick fixes. While some books claim to offer solutions, “Soul Doctor” asks readers to take a deeper dive into their souls and life experiences not only to ease symptoms but to look at the root causes lurking in their pasts.

Current psychology uses a “diagnostic lens” that find patterns and symptoms to enable medical treatment, he stressed. But that lens fails to capture the underlying resilience through which clients have adapted their lives to overcome the effects of abuse and terror.

“Soul Doctor’s lens adds the missing piece to the puzzle,” added Ciaramicoli.

“Soul Doctor” is the sequel to last year’s “Soulfire: Igniting Inner Strength In A Fractured World.” “Soulfire” focused on people’s innate determination to succeed in an increasingly polarized world. “Soul Doctor” speaks to an individual’s ability to reframe personal traumas as events from which hidden strengths and character development emerge.

Ciaramicoli draws on the experiences of several clients to illustrate how his intervention techniques led them to self-actualization. He shares techniques to rewire the brain and change negative thought patterns.

The veteran psychologist weaves in the work of colleagues to support his theories. They include noted psychologists Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Dr. Rick Hanson and Dr. Stephen Porges. He also draws on Dr. Viktor Frankl’s seminal book “Man’s Search for Meaning,” which describes how the Austrian neurologist survived the Holocaust.

As in his other books, Ciaramicoli focuses on the power of empathy to create change. His approach has a conversational, almost fatherly tone.

“What I have learned, after sitting with human beings in their most honest moments, is this,” he explained. “The strength they were looking for was never missing. It was hiding in the last place you would think to look; it was hiding inside the pain.”

— MARY ELLEN GAMBON

Latest News

Health Director Shaun McAuliffe clarified reasons for new regulations banning kratom and synthetic THC passed by the Board of Health last week. We also have a poll to gauge how residents feel about the ban.

This week’s Police Log features three arrests, along with reports of an injured skunk, a car hitting a bike and someone on the Fruit Street bridge during construction.

Town meetings tonight include the Charter Review Committee (7).

Photo of the Day

Large concrete pipes that are part of the Ash Street drainage project sit next to the Town Common.

PHOTO/JERRY SPAR