The novel "A Shining Affliction: A Story of Harm and Healing in Psychotherapy" details the parallel healing of an emotionally troubled young boy and his intern therapist. In this book Annie Rogers told her experience as her work with Ben first brought about her own mental breakdown and then the freedom of self-healing. This book pointed out the ability of psychotherapy to both hurt and to heal.

As the book opened, Annie had just started a doctoral internship at Glenwood, a residential and day treatment center for emotionally disturbed children. Ben, one of the children with whom she has been assigned to work, has a background of abuse as well as abandonment by his birth mother. Annie and Ben got along well during their sessions. Annie was able to easily interpret the boy's actions and emotions and properly react to his leads. Even as Annie was attempting to help heal Ben, Annie began to experience mental issues of her own. These issues became so bad that Annie had to be hospitalized.

After she recovered enough to leave the hospital, Annie began to work with Dr. Blumenfeld, a new psychoanalyst. As they worked together, they uncovered a background of abuse hidden in Annie's own life. Both her father and mother had been abusive to Annie, leaving her confused about love and attachment. Once Annie was able to come to terms with these memories, the voices she had heard all of her life were finally silenced and Annie felt alive. Blumenfeld also helped Annie to overcome a disastrous relationship with Annie's former therapist.

Even while she was still overcoming her own mental issues, Annie used her experience in healing to help Ben, her patient at Glenwood. During her internship, Annie was not only able to make a strong emotional connection with Ben, but also to leave the boy at the end of her year-long internship without destroying him. Through their relationship, both Annie and Ben are able to use their own abusive backgrounds to help heal each other.