The Courage to do what exactly?
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I first heard about this apalling book fairly recently when my partner was arrested and charged in relation to allegations of sexual abuse made by his younger sister which dated back some 30yrs to when he was just 6yrs old. She also made various other abuse allegations against another 6 people, some were other members of the family, others were not. As a result, our lives have been devastated culminating in the removal of our children by Social Services "for a little holiday".
During the course of the past months it transpired that, until the accuser went into therapy and was recommended this book to read, she was unable to recall any detail of the alleged abuse. Below are a couple of examples of the sort of advice the book offers:
'Many women who were abused don't have memories, and some never get any. This doesn't mean that they weren't abused', and 'if you think you were abused, and your life shows the symptoms, then you were'."
These so called 'symptoms' are wide ranging and extremely common. If I were of a mindset which made me vulnerable to suggestion, as I am sure many readers of such books are, by the time I had completed the book and carried out it's recommendations, I am certain that I would have convinced myself that I am a 'survivor'. I too would have been able to recall certain detail however incomplete or vague, convincing myself that the cuddle on my father's knee was more sinister than I first thought. I too would have filled in the gaps using my imagination (as the book recomends) and all the while these newly 'recovered memories' being reinforced and built upon by unqualified therapists.
Is it not possible that if you can not remember being abused as a child then perhaps it is simply that you were not? 'The Courage to Heal' would have us believe otherwise.
A shocking book which feeds into readers vulnerabilities, is irresponsible in it's content and which could ultimately be the cause of a very different kind of abuse, namely the thousands of adults and children on the receiving end of false allegations.
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A Lifeline!
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This book offers a wonderful insight into the healing process and has been an invaluable reference at different stages in my life. At times, when you'd rather shut everyone out, this book has helped support and guide me through the difficult and complex journey from victim to survivor.
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feeling myself again
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I really find this book extremely helpful and recommend it strongly.
Remembering sexual abuse is sorely painful and deeply sad - I felt my younger self, the little child screaming with pain and loneliness in recovery. I wonder what can I say to someone else in a similar position and in a dilema whether to face yet another book on this topic? It is helpful and I felt that because there are is so much input from a whole range of women - that there is an army of people out there. Many books say you are not alone - and this is helpful. This one shows and proves that you - and I - are not alone. Though we once were and this is a tragedy - we aren't and this is inspiring.
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a step on the road to recovery for victims of abuse
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After dealing with the aftermath of sexual abuse on my own for the past 27 years i finally got into counselling and was told to read this book. I have never looked back. It put me on the road to recovery. It has helped me to slowly come to terms with myself and the abuse I had to endure for a huge part of my childhood. It has shown me how to handle my emotions and how to cope with life after abuse. I can see that I am a normal person at last and most importantly this book has helped me to see that the abuse WAS NOT my fault. I can not recommend this book enough! Any negative reviews of this book must be written by those who have something to hide (possibly the truth hurts when they can see the damage sexual abuse can do). I will survive!
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3 books that changed my life
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Reanna Richter, A reviewer,
I have read Courage To Heal, The Courage To Heal Workbook (Laura Davis)and Nightmares Echo (Katlyn Stewart). I can tell you that because of these books I am now on the path to healing. I understand so much as to why I have done some of the things I did in my past. I learned I am not alone in the feelings I had. I thank the authors of these books that have made it possible to heal.
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