BOOKS
The books listed here have been suggested by our Lifecentre counsellors and by our clients. It is not a definitive list. We invite you to tell us of other books you have found helpful.
Survivors’ Stories
Linda Caine and Robin Royston
Out of the Dark
I found this book totally gripping. One of my clients introduced it to me. She also had found it totally gripping.Linda Caine had everything: happy family with 2 kids and supportive husband and a happy home. But blackness starts to leak into her thoughts. Images flash through her head leaving her stunned and terrified. On the face of it, there is no rational explanation for the way she feels.This is Linda's story, written her and interspersed with chapters by her psychiatrist Robin Royston as memories of childhood events unfold.
Tori Dante
Our Little Secret
This is a survivor’s account of her abuse by her father. It is shocking. It is also deeply moving. It is a book to take seriously – an eye-opener if you are new to the subject of sexual abuse and how it happens.
Heather Gemmen
Startling Beauty: My Journey from Rape to Restoration
Heather was married and with children when she was raped in her own home. She could have seen her life as one long nightmare, but she didn’t. This is a true-life story, written with a rare blend of grit and subtlety. It brings hope to anyone going through hard times
Peter Andrews
Survivor: the Long Lonely Journey to Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse
Confusion, depression, isolation are all natural reactions felt by victims of childhood sexual abuse. The story is a painful one, a boy let down, betrayed and sometimes abused by people he should have been able to trust. Above all it is a remarkable story that against all odds the human spirit has a resilience that enables Peter to make the journey from victim to survivor. This book will encourage male sexual abuse victims who are fearful and anxious of taking the first step of sharing their painful experiences with other. It will also challenge others to ensure that victims of sexual abuse are given space to tell their story are listened to and supported. Peter has set up his own charity and website to help the victims of sexual abuse.
Lew, M & Hoffman, R
Leaping Upon the Mountains: Men Proclaiming Victory over Child Sexual Abuse
In Mike Lew's first book, Victims No Longer, he challenged misconceptions about male victimization. In Leaping upon the Mountains, he follows up by focusing on the reality of recovery. Drawing insights from men from 45 countries who survived childhood sexual abuse, Lew presents a powerful picture of how it's possible to not only survive but overcome.
Ed London Rape Crisis Centre
Sexual Violence: The Reality for Women
The third edition of this resource for women offers information on dealing with the emotional and mental consequences of sexual violence, and answers questions about the law and police procedure in dealing with these crimes.
Lou Lewis
No Easy Answers
Many will know Lou Lewis as a sweet-voiced singer/songwriter. Now we discover her life...and struggle. A valuable book, chronicling the struggles of one person who sought to escape the clutches of past inner damage. The story's honesty quickly involves the reader emotionally, you cheer her on, groan with her and feel the regular bouts of frustration, anger and confusion. Lou shares her wading through painful relationships with total, refreshing honesty in a way that many would find very helpful. Some nice touches of dry humour, allied to a simple, clear, very readable style, make it an absorbing book, even "enjoyable" though that word seems inappropriate. The section of teaching on counselling skills offers useful, practical tips and it's interesting to hear how some of her beautiful, healing songs came to be written. A worthwhile, very profitable read.
Nancy Venable Raine
After Silence: Rape and my Journey Back
"The words shut up are the most terrible words I know," writes Nancy Venable Raine. "The man who raped me spat these words out over and over during the hours of my attack--when I screamed, when I tried to talk him out of what he was doing, when I protested." It took Raine seven years before she could start to remove the chains those words had wrapped around her spirit by writing about how the anonymous assailant had transformed her forever. As Raine takes us through her personal journey of recovery, she also explores the shifting cultural consciousness toward rape, from the acknowledgement of posttraumatic stress suffered by rape victims to the portrayal of rape in movies. It's this willingness to interrogate the world around her, combined with an emotional honesty that portrays intimate drama without resorting to sensationalism, that makes After Silence one of the most important books of the 1990s.
Dave Pelzer
A Child Called It
Dave’s story of childhood abuse
Ian McEwan
On Chesil Beach
No-one ever says that the heroine of this book is a survivor, but I think many survivors will recognise and identify with her. Page 50 gives us a clue. A very powerful book, a novella, really about a happy couple for whom everything is fine – until their wedding night.
My supervisor recommended this to me as compulsory reading for survivors and their partners experiencing problems in sexual relations together. I also recommend it!
Laura Davis
The Courage to Heal Workbook: For Women and Men Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
In this groundbreaking companion to The Courage to Heal, Laura Davis offers an inspiring, in-depth workbook that speaks to all women and men healing from the effects of child sexual abuse. The combination of checklists, writing and art projects, open-ended questions and activities expertly guides the survivor through the healing process.
# Survival Skills -- Teaches survivors to create a safe, supportive environment, ask for help, deal with crisis periods, and choose therapy.
# Aspects Of Healing -- Focuses on the healing process: gaining a capacity for hope, breaking silence, letting go of shame, turning anger into action, planning a confrontation, preparing for family contact, and affirming personal progress.
# Guidelines For Healing Sexually -- Redefines the concept of "safe sex" and establishes healthy ground rules for sexual contact.
John Bradshaw
Healing the Shame that Binds You
This classic book, written 17 years ago but still selling more than 13,000 copies every year, has been completely updated and expanded by the author. "I used to drink," writes John Bradshaw,"to solve the problems caused by drinking. The more I drank to relieve my shame-based loneliness and hurt, the more I felt ashamed." Shame is the motivator behind our toxic behaviors: the compulsion, co-dependency, addiction and drive to superachieve that breaks down the family and destroys personal lives. This book has helped millions identify their personal shame, understand the underlying reasons for it, address these root causes and release themselves from the shame that binds them to their past failures.
Mary Ellen Copeland
Healing the Trauma of Abuse: A Woman’s Workbook
This workbook offers women who have suffered sexual, physical, or emotional abuse crucial skills for coping, self-understanding, and self-care. The book is designed to be worked through from beginning to end, with self-evaluation questionnaires, writing exercises, and a variety of activities and relaxation techniques throughout. Also included are questions to ask a doctor, a personal crisis plan, and a comprehensive list of resources.
Penny Parks
Rescuing the “Inner Child”: Therapy for Adults Sexually Abused as Children (Human Horizons Series)
Sue Atkinson
Breaking the Chains of Abuse: A Practical Guide
Rob Willson, David Veale, Alex Clarke (Authors)
Overcoming Body Image Problems including Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Many people occasionally suffer from a negative body self-image but, for an increasing number of people, this can turn into a more serious preoccupation. One per cent of the population will develop Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a condition characterised by severe preoccupation with a perceived physical defect. Body image problems can cause significant distress and can lead to further problems such as anxiety, eating disorders and social phobia. It has long been recognised that negative body image problems are a factor in the onset and maintenance of many eating disorders. However, they can be successfully treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Ben Furman
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood
Rebecca Newman
Releasing the Scream
Bear & Dimock
Adults Molested as Children: A Survivor’s Manual
Survivors and sexuality
Carolyn Ainscough and Kay Toon Breaking Free: Help for Survivors of Child Sexual AbuseThis is a brilliant, easy to read, self help book that I personally found invaluable both as a survivor and as a therapist. There is a really good chapter on Sex and Sexuality that may prove helpful; including a survivor’s story, Sexual Problems, Avoiding Physical Contact and Relationships, Indescriminate Sex, Avoiding or Disliking Sex,Turn Offs, Turn Ons, Flashbacks, Sexual Orientation, Lack of Sexual Knowledge, Preoccupation With Sex, Prostitution, Overcoming The Problems, Physical and Emotional Health, Relationships, No Partner, exercises, Myths and Messages, exercises: Messages About Sex, Examples, Learning About Your Body and Sex, Learning to Communicate, Follow Your Feelings, Exercises, Learning to Relax, Touching Yourself, exercises, Giving and Receiving Touches, exercises, Dealing With Flashbacks, Summary and Suggestions “You may find yourself becoming less negative about sex as you work through this book and begin to feel less guilt and ashamed about what has happened. Try to keep in mind that it isn’t sex that’s painful and frightening but being abused. Your body was ssaulted and your feelings were disregarded. Sexual feelings can be pleasurable, and sexual experiences alone, or with a partner, can be loving and enjoyable.” p 171 Angela Phillips and Jill Rakusen, Our Bodies, OurselvesThis is a women’s handbook with chapters on women’s anatomy and sexuality. A British edition of the original by the Boston Women’s Health Collective. Ann Dickson The Mirror Within: A New Look at SexualityA very readable book on assertiveness and sexuality Michael Castleman Making LoveA book for men on making love but very interesting and informative for women to read. Marie H. Browne
If The Man You Love Was Abused: A Couple's Guide to HealingThe scars left on the hearts and souls of childhood abuse survivors run deep; they require time, patience, and support to heal. As your man faces his past, he will have no better support than you, his loving and devoted partner. But where are you to turn for hope and guidance in this difficult time? Written with both of your needs in mind and informed by case studies from real patients in her practice, psychologist Dr. Marie Browne combines practical applications with authoritative research to offer you the ultimate guide for getting through this difficult situation. You'll learn how to help him get the support he needs, and make sure not to neglect your needs in the process. Back to top
Male Survivors of Sexual abuse
Richard. B. Gartner
Beyond Betrayal: Taking Charge of Your Life After Boyhood Sexual Abuse
In this powerful book, Dr. Gartner allows his patients to speak for themselves. The men's heartrending stories convey the full range of long-term devastations of boyhood sexual abuse: the despair, the secrecy, and the isolation; the worry about manhood and sexual orientation; and the difficulties of developing intimate relationships. In sharing their stories, these courageous men demonstrate what bravely deciding to face your inner demons can bring you: trust, resolution, and connection.
M. Scarce
Male on Male Rape: the Hidden Toll of Stigma and Shame
Mike Lew
Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from Incest and other Sexual Child Abuse
Our culture provides no room for a man as victim. Men are simply not supposed to be victimised. A ‘real man’ is expected to be able to protect himself in any situation. For the millions of men who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse, this groundbreaking work offers hope, understanding and essential advice for healing. This book addresses survivors with compassion, intelligence and respect…I found this really helpful in understanding this subject – and how to help.
Heather Gemmen
Male Survivors: A Self-help Pack
Kim Etherington
Narrative Approaches to Working with Adult Male Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
This is a book survivors may find really helpful. This is terrific book for giving insight into male abuse. Kim Etherington has written some of the chapters and 2 male survivors of abuse, brothers, tell their stories of what happened to them and their experience of therapy with Kim.
Kim Etherington
Adult Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Mic Hunter
Abused Boys: The Neglected Victims of Sexual Abuse
A long overdue book by a psychologist who has extensive clinical experience treating male victims of child sexual abuse, it explodes the myth that sexual abuse of male children is rare, or that the consequences are less serious than for girls. Hunter examines the physical and emotional impact of abuse on its victims and the factors affecting revovery. With personal case histories of victims and their families, this is a powerfully written and meticulously researched book that is a landmark in the field of child sexual abuse literature.
F. Bolton, L. Morris & A. MacEachron
Males at Risk – The Other Side of Child Sexual Abuse
L. Camino
Treating Sexually Abused boys: A guide for Therapists and Counsellors
John M. Preble & A. Nicholas Groth
Male Victims of Same sex Abuse: Addressing their Sexual Response
M. Mendel
The Male Survivor: the Impact of Sexual Abuse
L. Camino
Treating Sexually Abused boys: A Guide for Therapists and Counsellors
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Depression
Matthew Johnstone
I had a black Dog
This is such a refreshing little book, full of cartoon pictures and hardly any text. The black dog is depression, of course. It is written out of the experience of the author in learning to live with depression, how to tame it and diminish it. It will make you laugh and it may encourage you. It has a great tendency to lift one’s spirits. Recommended to counsellors and survivors and everyone who needs a tonic.
Other Books (mainly for professionals)
Graham Wilmer Picking up the PiecesThis is a survival guide for victims of childhood sexual abuse” which supports victims of child abuse. The book ‘picking up the pieces’ has been written to help people, who have been exposed to childhood sexual abuse. Essentially it is a survival guide, helping them to realise that it wasn’t their fault, they had no control over what happened, they were an innocent child at the time and they are entitled to grieve for their loss. The Lantern Project (which Graham founded) is a support group based in Wallasey, the Wirral, which provides support to victims of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, racial abuse and bullying. Click the link for more information. Alice Miller The Drama of Being a Child: The Search for the True Self
Babette Rothschild
The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment
This book is a must for all our counsellors. It’s quite a technical book but it is invaluable for understanding how our bodies may be affected by trauma, how trauma is processed by the mind – and how therapists can respond to bring help.
Babette Rothschild
The Body Remembers Casebook: Unifying Methods and Models in the Treatment of Trauma and PTSD
Foa E.B. and Rothbaum B.A. (1998)
Treating the trauma of rape: Cognitive behavioral therapy for PTSD
In the U.S. alone, approximately 1.5 million adult female survivors of rape are estimated to suffer from chronic PTSD. This invaluable book—informed by the latest research and written by two of the leading authorities in the field—provides a step-by-step guide to proven brief therapy techniques for treating traumatized women. Filling an urgent need of front-line practitioners working within managed care guidelines, the book includes numerous case examples illustrating sensitive and effective information-gathering and intervention, as well as explanations of how to cope with common problems and complications in treatment.
Bessel A. Van Der Kolk, Lars Weisaeth, Alexander C. McFarlane
Traumatic Stress: Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body and Society
Charles L. Whitfield
Memory and Abuse – Remembering and Healing the effects of Trauma
John E Samo
The Divided Mind
The author is Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York School of Medicine. In this book he explores the chasm between the conscious and unconscious minds, where he believes a lot of our body pain and ailments originate. This is very challenging on a personal level and especially as counsellors who may dare to think we are in touch with our inner minds!!
Claire Burke Draucker and Donna Martsolf
Counselling Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (Counselling in Practice series)
A step by step guide to understanding the effects of childhood sexual abuse and helping survivors through the process of counselling from disclosure to resolution.
Christiane Sanderson
Counselling Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
A real key text for trainee counsellors in this area.
Penny Parks
The Counsellor's Guide to Parks' Inner Child Therapy (Human Horizons)
David Howe
Child Abuse and Neglect: Attachment, Development and Intervention
Dissociative Disorders
Tracy Alderman & Karen Marshall
Amongst Ourselves A self-help guide to living with Dissociative Identity Disorder
Sandra J. Hocking
Living with Yourselves: A Survival Manual for People with Multiple Personalities
Frank W. Putnam
Dissociation in Children and Adolescents. A Developmental Perspective
Sandra J. Hocking
Someone I know has Multiple Personalities: A book for Significant others, family, friends and Caring Professional
Marlene E. Hunter
Understanding Dissociative Disorders: A Guide for Family Physicians and Health Care Professionals
Judith Lewis Herman
Trauma and Recovery: From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror Rivers
Phil Mollon
Multiple Selves, Multiple Voices: Working with Trauma, violation and Dissociation
Kathryn Livingston
Understanding Dissociative Disorders
Deborah Bray Haddock
The Dissociative Identity Sourcebook
BarryM. Cohen, Esther Gillan & W. Lynn (Eds)
Multiple Personality Disorder from the Inside Out
Working with Children/young people
Kathryn Geldard and David Geldard
Counselling Adolescents.
Kathryn Geldard and David Geldard
Counselling Children. A practical Introduction
Randall Easton Wickham and Janet West
Therapeutic Work with Sexually Abused Children
Other issues
Ed. Michele Elliot
Female Sexual Abuse of Children: The Ultimate Taboo
John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0273616218
Eric Leberg
Understanding Child Molesters: Taking Charge
Sage
ISBN: 0761901876
Penny Parks
The Counsellors Guide to Parks Inner Child Therapy
Souvenir Press
ISBN: 0285631721
K Blue
Healing Spiritual Abuse- How to Break Free from Bad Church Experiences
Intervarsity Press, 1993
How to recognise and begin to heal from spiritual abuse. Leaders: how to avoid abusive patterns
Self Harm
Gerrilyn Smith
Women and Self Harm
The Women’s Press 1998
J Young & J Klosko
Re-Inventing your life: The Break-through programme to end Negative Behaviour and Feel Great Again
Plume 1994
ISBN: 0452272041
A CBT based book looking at common lifetraps associated with past patterns, including mistrust and abuse, how to recognise them in yourself and break free
B Walsh
Treating Self Injury- A Practical Guide
Guildford Press 2006
ISBN 1593652169
More for practitioners than clients but good clear information
M Strong
A Bright Red Scream_ Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain
Virago, 1998
ISBN: 1860497543
An excellent book covering all aspects of self harm, mind-body connection etc
Babiker, G & Arnold, L
The Language of Injury: Comprehending Self-Mutilation
Leicester: British Psychological Society, 1997
Burstow, Bonnie
Radical Feminist Therapy (Chap 10: Self-Mutitation)
Newbury Park: Sage, 1992
Fzivazza, Amando
Viscious Circles
Good Practises in Mental Health, 1996
Miller, Dusty
Women who Hurt Themselves: A book of Hope and Understanding
New York, Basic Books 1994
Pembroke, Louise(ed)
Self Harm: perspectives form Personal Experience
London, Survivors Speak Out, (1994)
Barent W & Rosen, Paul M
Self-Mutilation: Theory, Research and Treatment
New York, Guildford Press, 1998
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