Who is Kate Brinker from A Shining Affliction: A Story of Harm and Healing in Psychotherapy and what is their importance?

Kate Brinker was Ben's adoptive mother. She was married to Charles Brinker. Early in Annie's experience with Ben, she met with Kate and learned details of Ben's young life. Ben had lived with the Brinkers since he was eighteen months of age. Kate described to Annie the different doctors, hospitals and treatment centers that he had visited in his short life. Kate told Annie that so far no one has been able to help Ben. Some of the treatments have even made him worse. Kate believed however that Annie would be able to help Ben.