Book Recommendation: The Courage To Heal

[watundah]

The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
By Ellen Bass and Laura Davis
20th Anniversary Edition was published in 2008.

I recommend this for CSA survivors regardless of where you are in your healing journey. I believe it may be especially helpful to those who are unable to get to a therapist.

600 pages of helpful information, exercises, and survivor stories.

 

[NatBird]

Aw...This book was really helpful to me.

I remember living at a youth hostel when I was 17. One of the workers called me aside and gave me a copy. I hadn't disclosed anything. When I went to return it to her she told me to keep it - it might be useful at some point -- it was. It was the first book that I read about CSA. It
helped me to make sense of some of my behaviours and recognise how F'd up the behaviour of others was. The testimonies at the end of the book made what I was going through seem less strange and gave me hope, strength and creative inspiration.
If anyone is into poetry Ellen Bass is brilliant.
Thanks for posting this I'm going to revisit.

 

[scout86]

You know, someone recommended that book a long time ago. I read it, and hated it, and I can't remember why. :confused:

 

[Sideways]

My copy has pages flagged, notes falling out from everywhere, passages highlighted in different colours and endless arrows and comment in the margins. I revisit different chapters over and over as I oscillate between the different stages of recovery. Of all the books I've read, this is the one that helps pull me back together when I'm falling apart, and propel me forward when I stagnate.

Totally second this recommendation!

 

[watundah]

That was something that resonated with me..the stages are more of a spiral vs linear.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I owned this book in 1985 and there was not much written in those days so I found it really helpful. I finally gave it away to someone who needed it more than me. I am glad you like and use the book.

 

[sun seeker]

I've read a few different versions of this book. They keep updating it, and it's worth searching out a newer version for the updated advice about body-centred therapies. Thirty years ago or whenever it first came out, the different people's stories in it were good but the "healing" part was less robust.

There is also an accompanying book called Allies in Healing, about supporting survivors.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I read it, and hated it, and I can't remember why.

Because its still stuff in 1988 and their knowledge at the time and makes zero mention of cormobilty and it's challenges and therapies as well as proven well researched therapies such as EMDR, CBT, DBT just to name a few possibly?

ETA: Oh and to add, no actual soild psychological theories, an unproven memory recovery theory, and the leading author is a poet. It reminds me of the 80s and 90s self help books that promises but doesnt deliver.

The "recovered memories" also reminds me of the 80s false SRA claims and why I cant call my past SRA, no one believes it.

Id rather read a book where the lead author is a Dr.

 

[Naoru]

I have worked through the most recent version of this book and would recommend it as well, even with a therapist's support. It opened my eyes with a few things. That said, I think it's like anything else - take what you find useful and discard the rest...

 

[anonymous]

Id rather read a book where the lead author is a Dr

agreed, there were only a few bits that I found helpful, and not really even all that helpful.. It's now gathering lots of dust on a shelf so I'm giving it to charity.

Reading books on attachment theory and articles on trauma bonding have been more useful for me.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

there were only a few bits that I found helpful, and not really even all that helpful.. It's now gathering lots of dust on a shelf so I'm giving it to charity.

It honestly gives you the hope in an unproven "recover memories" thing and, I think, its now been disproven. I could be wrong but I think I read that somewhere.

At least when you bring out a 2008 "revised edition" add proven therapies from 2008. It has zero of those proven therapies. I dont get it as they are so incredablly helpful for not just PTSD but BPD, and other disorders and doesnt mention cormobility when most with PTSD doesnt only have PTSD. BPD being the most common and there wasnt much that I could use.

It honestly really does remember of the the 80s and 90s "self help book craze". At least a PhD could write something very fact based and proven and revise it correctly with new psychological theories and new proven therapies etc.

 

[sun seeker]

The "recovered memories" also reminds me of the 80s false SRA claims

Do you remember which version you read? I notice the section on recovered memories is one they have changed with every edition I've read.

why I cant call my past SRA, no one believes it

I do.