Overcoming Childhood Sexual Trauma: A Guide to Breaking Through the Wa

Description

Go beyond the pain and fear of sexual abuse to heal the trauma Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can be a physically and emotionally painful soul-shattering experience that can traumatize a person for a lifetime. The Wall of Fear: Crossing the Wall from Trauma to Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse is a unique exploration of the subjective experiences of both client and therapist as they together... Read more

Go beyond the pain and fear of sexual abuse to heal the trauma

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can be a physically and emotionally painful soul-shattering experience that can traumatize a person for a lifetime. The Wall of Fear: Crossing the Wall from Trauma to Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse is a unique exploration of the subjective experiences of both client and therapist as they together travel the path to recovery. Therapists get a clear illustration of the therapy process while CSA survivors are offered a gauge with which to judge their own progress toward recovery. New therapeutic concepts are clearly presented and extensively discussed while sensitively charting the experiences of clients on the journey toward healing.

As Winston Churchill once said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” The Wall of Fear charts the arduous progress of a survivor from the initial understanding that they need help and guidance, to choosing the correct therapist, to the emotional roadblocks most clients face on their own personal recovery from the hell of CSA. The authors team up to courageously provide readers with a comprehensive and candid portrait of their experiences of CSA therapy while demonstrating the approaches which effectively enhance healing. Features include schematic drawings of the stages of therapy, the client’s own diary from her youth through her therapy in adulthood, client drawings illustrating progress in therapy, and effective art exercises that can be used at the beginning of therapy. The text includes extensive references, useful appendixes, and a helpful glossary of terms for the layperson.

Topics in The Wall of Fear include:

the nature of sexual trauma (the new concept of the World of Trauma)
growing up traumatized—and its effect on friendships, sexual development, dating, and mate selection
couples’ relationships and sexuality
selecting a therapist
the new concept of The Wall of Fear
closure
coping with the therapy process
parenting by CSA survivors and the impact on the next generation
the subjective experiences of both therapist and CSA survivor

The Wall of Fear stands as a testament that no matter what sexual trauma a person may endure, there is hope for recovery. This is insightful, crucial reading for survivors of CSA and therapists at all levels of expertise. Read less

Foreword (Christine A. Courtois)
Preface
Acknowledgments
PART I: LIVING WITH THE TRAUMA
Chapter 1. Why Is Childhood Sexual Abuse So Traumatic? (Sheri Oz)
Defining CSA
Power and Exploitation
The Child’s Experience of the Abuse Event
Chapter 2. Trapped in the World of Trauma (Sheri Oz and Sarah-Jane Ogiers)
Control
Growing Up a Survivor
Into Adulthood
Chapter 3. Intimate Relationships and the World of Trauma (Sheri Oz)
The CSA Survivor in an Intimate Relationship
Couples Relationships
Changes in the Relationship During the CSA Survivor’s Therapy
Sexuality
Modifying the Couples Contract
PART II: THE JOURNEY
Chapter 4. Choosing a Therapist: A Client’s Perspective (Sarah-Jane Ogiers)
The Basics
Knowing a Poor Fit
The Ideal Therapist
Coda
Chapter 5. Stages of Therapy: Breaking Through the Wall of Fear (Sheri Oz and Sarah-Jane Ogiers)
The Map of the Therapeutic Process
Starting the Journey
The Wall of Fear
Continuing the Journey
Chapter 6. Closure: Coming to Peace with the Past (Sheri Oz and Sarah-Jane Ogiers)
Confrontations
Revenge Fantasies
Forgiveness
Justice
Reconciliation
Forgiveness Again
Closure
Chapter 7. How I Get Through Therapy in One Piece (Sarah-Jane Ogiers)
Support Network
Coping Alone
Epilogue
PART III: COMPANIONS ON THE JOURNEY
Chapter 8. Children of Survivors: Growing up in the Shadow of Trauma (Sheri Oz)
What the Research Says
Should I Tell My Children I Was Abused?
The Voices of the Children
A Final Word to Survivor Parents
Chapter 9. Being a Therapist: Notes on Working with CSA Survivors (Sheri Oz)
Starting Out
What the Literature Says About Being a CSA Therapist
My Own Experiences as a CSA Therapist
Boundary Issues in the Literature
Personal experience with Boundary Dilemmas
Special Challenges in Clinical Work
Concluding Words
A Final Thought
Appendix A: Beginning Therapy (Sheri Oz)
Before-and-After Drawing
Two-Photo Collage
Timing of the Exercises
Appendix B: Interview Questions
The Questionnaire
Glossary
References
Index

Author(s)

Biography

Sheri Oz, Sarah-Jane Ogiers

Overcoming Childhood Sexual Trauma A Guide to Breaking Through the Wall of Fear for Practitioners and Survivors

Description

Table of Contents

Author(s)

Biography

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