The Courage to Heal - Third Edition - Revised and Expanded : A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
Author: Ellen Bass, Laura Davis
List Price: $22.50
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ISBN: 0060950668
Publisher: Perennial (29 June, 1994)
Sales Rank: 1,051
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 1 out of 5
It should be called a "misguide" - bad medicine.
After the first chapter, it became disappointingly apparent that Davis and Bass are not trained psychotherapists, nor are they actually certified in any mental health profession at all! This book is dangerous in that it reinforces old stereotypical concepts and outmoded victim support therapies. Some have been succesfully challenged in court. THIS IS A DANGEROUS BOOK FOR SOMEONE WHO NEEDS SERIOUS PROFESSIONAL HELP IN SURVIVING CHILD ABUSE - BEWARE! The authors are NOT qualified professionals in the field and their inexperience shows. Unfortunately, there are no laws preventing anyone with an idea and a little ink from becoming an "expert". Sadly, the complex and fragile manner with which victims of child abuse need to be cared didn't dissuade the authors in the least.
Rating: 5 out of 5
A wonderfully supportive and helpful book!
This book has gone a long way in helping me to begin the long journey to coming to terms with the sexual abuse I suffered as a pre-teen. For most of my adult life, I've been reluctant to attribute any of my problems (such as depression, self hatred, unhealthy sexual relationships with men, a general disgust about myself, etc.) to being molested by my stepfather. Within the past couple of years, however, I've begun to examine my feelings about it more and more. I bought this book rather hesitantly, but ended up reading the first few chapters in tears as I read so many of my own feelings and experiences echoed by the other abuse survivors. I had thought that I was all alone and that there was something intrinsically wrong with me for feeling the way I did about myself, and it was an overwhelming relief to find others who feel the same after having similar childhood experiences. The reviews offered here referring to the "memory" issue misrepresent the focus and intent of the book. These readers seem to want to keep abuse survivors quiet to save the "sanctity" of the family. So many of us have done this for years; sacrificing of our emotional well being. They belittle the profound hurt and damage caused not only by the abuse, but by the silence as well. At the very least, this book has helped me to feel human and has given me hope that I may one day feel whole. I highly recommend this book as an invaluable resource.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Disagree with Reviewers
I am so sorry I have to disagree with the reviewers that put this book down. I AM A SURVIVOR of abuse because of this book and a couple of others I will mention in a moment. Courage To heal gave me hope in a hopeless time in my life. I was spiraling downward from what had happened to me as a child. With this book I am able to pick up the pieces of my ppast, cast out the demons and learn how to live... Similar Products
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