The Courage to Heal

Customer Reviews

• 5 out of 5
  
  
  by Quinn from Jamaica Plain, MA | Sep 17, 2007
  

  This book is an incredible resource for survivors of sexual violence. While it's intened audience is women survivors of childhood sexual abuse, I believe that any survivor of sexual violence could benefit from reading it. Its saved me on more than one occation durring particular rough patches.
  
  I can't explain how helpful this book is. I've never read it straight through- it's more of a reference. My favorite part in the book is titled, "Don't kill yourself." Nearly every survivor ponders suicide as an option. It lays out several reasons why you should not kill yourself and steps to make that happen.

  
  
   1 people found this review helpful
  
  

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• 5 out of 5
  
  
  by Dee from Las Vegas, NV | Nov 14, 2007
  

  Absolutely, completely indispensable to victims and survivors. This really has become the 'bible' and the 'life force' for so many and there's a lot of reasoning behind it.
  
  I've re-read this book countless times (probably upwards of ten?) and I continue to do so sporadically.
  
  This book helped save my life and the life of many others. I'm so glad that I found it when I did. I recommend it to so many during my volunteer work and they all just can't stop thanking me for introducing them to it.
  
  

  
  
   1 people found this review helpful
  
  

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• 5 out of 5
  
  
  by Kate from Seattle, WA | Jul 11, 2009
  

  A passionate book which helped me a great deal as well as my husband to know what I/we were facing in terms of the road ahead in my trauma recovery.
  
  There are well laid-out details on the stages of recovery, what to expect for both the survivor and the family members, stories for the survivor to relate to, and also identified things I could look for which would be counterproductive to healing.
  
  I was relieved to see clear, direct language on how to assess and get support on recovered memories. Many books are ambivalent on the subject, or give such an impartial response you are not sure whether to think you can trust your memories or not. This gives guidance on how to get support in assessing them, it doesn't engage in the controversy of whether they are true or not. Ultimately, this is up to the individual to sort out and to find the support they need to do so.

  
  

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• 3 out of 5
  
  
  by Scott from Burlington, IA | Dec 4, 2008
  

  I keep this on the shelf in my office not because it is the best, but because it is so widely used in my field that it serves as a good reference. I had a clinician at my work come looking for a copy just last week. A lot of survivors of abuse that began their healing 10 or more years ago have had contact with it, so it is useful. I disagree with a lot of the things in it however, such as its idea that masturbation is a healthy way to take back control of your sexuality after abuse. But there is a lot in it that is helpful, and the stories it contains from other survivors do a lot to encourage and validate women who are going through the healing process.

  
  

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• 5 out of 5
  
  
  by Shreya from Chicago, IL | Nov 7, 2008
  

  yes, agreed-this book is the bhagavad gita for survivors, and i think much of it can even be applicable to those outside the range of women-identified folks.
  
  this book is deep- it says things simply, concisely, and is affirming that this work can take a long time and reminds people they should be patient with their process. (yes! for harm reduction at its best) i have been writing down, almost word for word, things along the way that i'd like to share with the folks i work with.
  
  i loved the mixture of narrative, story, poetry, journaling, and some of the exercises at the end of each chapter... you can tell the authors have listened closely to the many, many people they've talked to; what the authors had to say was validated by the variety of women interviewd and their experiences.... all the different kinds of written expression served their purpose well and nothing seemed repetetive or excessive.
  
  the chapter on anger was a sparkling gem.
  
  because of its variety and accessibility, i feel that almost any reader can get something useful from this book.
  

  
  

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