The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, 20th Anniversary Edition

Title: The Courage to Heal: A Life-Changing Book The Courage to Heal, written by an incredible duo, Ellen Bass and Laura Davis, is not just another self-help book; it is a transformative journey that empowers individuals to confront and heal from the pain of their past. This remarkable book has not only provided me with the much-needed courage, but also with the knowledge and understanding of the devastating impact of childhood trauma on adulthood and relationships. Through the pages of The Courage to Heal, I discovered that my own experiences are not unique, but rather part of a collective narrative. It taught me to shed the burden of shame and guilt that has held me captive for far too long. With empathy and compassion, the authors skillfully guide readers through the healing process, offering invaluable insights, exercises, and practical tools. What sets this book apart is its ability to deliver timeless truths and encouragement. It beautifully illustrates the power of resilience, forgiveness, and self-compassion. I found solace in the stories of survivors, recognizing echoes of my own struggles within their narratives. The Courage to Heal has given me hope, instilled strength, and illuminated the path towards healing and wholeness. In conclusion, The Courage to Heal is a profound and impactful book that, without a doubt, has the potential to change lives. If you are seeking the courage to confront your past and heal your heart, this book is an absolute must-read.

I cannot possibly give it less then 5 stars!! This book speaks volumes of my pain and suffering! It screams at me in the face and and i feel so validated! The healing process takes months. I can only speak of right now im starting to feel like a human. I have a body. Im a person. Can it be? But other times i feel disconnected and the real perosn seems so far away. I know she will come back! The pain os tangible and the book knows all too well. The knowledge validation examples role models stories poem make the healing process somewhat a breeze yes even though the heavy storm! At times you only want to give up! At times you feel like its managble and actualy im a person. I like this. Get ready to feel validated, get ready to feel like its ok to feel its ok to be human. And most of all this book will change your life forever! You will experience reincarnation. If you dont want that don't read it. If you read it do work! It takes work it so worth it. Authors i dont know you but you are courageous women! Taking a risky topic to help others to put it on paper. You get it i apprecaite your hard work. Continue giving and inspiring others. Much love -an incest survivor. How'd this turn out to be a letter? I decided to post 2 poems that hopefully others can gain from. its called "Living Dead" You took my life away All gone Where was my personality ? Eating lunch While I was suffering Still am I woke up Ewhhh Ewhhh No motivation Wasteful Powerless I felt stuck I couldn’t move The world was at its end But this time in self pity I knew just why 20+ years I forced myself to get up Although no motivation I wanted to put my head back down In depression In sadness I couldn’t I would get nowhere My symptoms were denied I wanted to answer a text I felt mean Unnatural Fake I did it again And again And again But I still didn’t like it Feeling mean I wasn’t mean I just didn’t have another ‘means’ To do it But my heart was still there and it felt a pang When I couldn’t be natural And sounded mean Pushing the other person away Ok ill put a ‘thank you’ before the message It sounds too much No after the message –it doesn’t need it Ok none But I’m mean What should I write? Natural doesn’t come Not in my life But when it does come Words ideas words Just flow Flow Flow Flow Flow Flow Thank G-d Waking up at ease No more fighting I feel the power in my whole body As opposed to an emptiness in my Stomach and heart I can talk be funny Say stories A difference between life and death Though death while being alive Everyone else is doing death while being alive I had to do it too While not knowing they were doing alive While being alive I did death for 20+ years Got a degree, diploma Made friends travled the world Worked, woke up every day All while being dead Im waking up from the dead now People see it Oh how people see it Yea living life that way Was no fun Sexual abuse survivors You have hope You’re a survivor No more a victim Although im fluctuating bet life and death now I know one day I will be fully alive.

The Courage to Heal is an invaluable and compassionate guide for women survivors of child sexual abuse. Ellen Bass and Laura Davis provide practical tools, empathetic guidance, and a sense of hope, making this book a cornerstone for healing and personal empowerment.

My husband recently disclosed that he has been addicted to porn through our 24 year marriage - that means betrayal, abuse, infidelity, and trauma. I had a copy of this book for unrelated reasons, and I opened it in desperation. I had known something was terribly, desperately wrong, but I didn’t have the language for what it was. So far, this book is speaking to me like nothing else I’ve found. I’m so grateful to have found a book that both acknowledges the depths of my pain, fear, and despair and also gives a me a path forward with hope into a healed, happy life. I need all the hope I can get, and I also need someone to say that the pain is real, valid, overwhelming…and temporary.

This book was the catalyst to my healing journey over 25 years ago. Reading it again brought back a flood of memories that reminded me how far I've come. How much I've grown and the level of compassion, love and grace I am capable of. Thank you a million times over for all of you brave enough to talk about the hard shit. I hope my voice is able to impact someone as deeply as you all have. With an abundance of gratitude, Anne

I'm a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and find this book to be a wondeful addition to my practice. Each chapter is easy language to read with suggested therapeutic exercises women can do on their own. I really like how the book addresses family secrets and the often painful experience of women's families rejecting the idea they've been abused or parents who stayed with the abuser and continue to deny the abuse happend. This book empowers women to confront their families and validates the truth for them. There is a great workbook that goes along with the book giving step by step activities for healing. Great addition to my practice.

日本語で書かれている性被害被害者のための本がどうもしっくり来ず、 洋書で何かないだろうかと探していたときに出会ったのがこのワークブックだった。 本としてみると分厚いが、読むのは案外さらっと読める。 レベルとしては、英検準一級レベル以上の人であれば、辞書を少し引くだけで読破することが可能だと思われる。 サバイバーの聖書と何処かで言われていたが、それはまさにそうだ。 内容としては若干古いが、しかし今なお色あせない、読者に与える強さをこの本は持っていると思う。 この本の最初の方に書かれていることだが、 「この本は、”台無しにされた人生”について書いたこれまでの本とは異なる。これは自ら”癒す”ことについて書かれている」 、というのは事実である。 日本でまだよく使われるこの癒し系、という意味の癒しとはまったく異なり、 痛みを伴いまたこの本を読んだからといって解決するわけではない道のりについて、この本は静かに語り続ける。 受動態の癒されることではなく、自ら自らを癒すこと・・ こう書いている自分にも非常に難しく、未だ死ぬことを選択肢に入れてしまうが、この本を読んで一人でも多くの人が本当に意味で癒されてほしいと強く願う。 読まれるときには、できればワークブックとともに読まれるとよりいいと思われる。 傷ついただけの状態にとどまらず、"Courage to heal”を持つ・・まさに名言だと思う。 この本は一助となるはずだ。

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Clearly not the best printing. Print is too small to read comfortably. Content of the book was good. A nice way for someone to start thinking if they need help.

This book is written in an easy to understand format, and deals with a painful and horrifying subject kindly, supportively and very unambiguously. For the survivor, it covers all stages, and makes everything acceptable, thus removing the secrecy, shame and 'I thought it was just me....' feelings that survivors have. The stories hold much to identify with, and although harrowing, are helpful. On my own journey I have gone through many stages and emotions, and this book has helped me though them. Recovery from abuse is a long process, and it takes a huge amount of courage and bravery to do so. I think what I found helpful was to see how families react to disclosure, and to support you if this is less than positive (usually it is, unfortunately ) I would suggest reading it in small chunks, and not overwhelming yourself with it, because each bit can bring stuff up that your own identification with is painful, and needs time to process, so go gently and slowly. If you're in therapy it's helpful to share this with your therapist if they're a good one. I have found it invaluable on my journey, and would wholeheartedly recommend it for survivors as an essential way to be kind to yourselves, and to therapists as to how to help, due to its thorough and complete insight and practical and emotional guidance. I would like to just comment on some other reviews that cite this book as being the harbinger of 'false memory' syndrome, and that once someone has read this book, they will become convinced they have been abused themselves and accuse everyone around them. As an ex child protection social worker of 20 + years experience I would say that abuse is actually very, very common. Much more than we may think. It IS shocking how much abuse is perpetrated. Trauma often does repress memory for many, many years, or until it is safe enough to deal with. I am disheartened to see other reviews saying that this book causes damage. I disagree. This book does not cause damage. Abuse causes damage, secrecy causes damage, and the concept of false memory syndrome causes damage too, and to many survivors is an invalidating, accusatory and unhelpful idea, which feels offensive, and appears to protect perpetrators. Trauma is stored very differently in the brain to other memory, is is often fragmented and in smells, sounds, and flashes of images, particularly if the child was pre verbal. Survivors don't always remember immediately, as abuse is so overwhelming that to survive, repression is a common occurrence, although not everyone does, many do. There isn't ONE category of survivor, and the right way to do it. There are many ways survivors process their memories, some have addiction, self harm, mental health issues food issues, some with none of the above. This book is helpful, and may be the lone voice that supports you, because recovery from abuse is a lonely road, but ultimately one which will set you free.

It is a great book i you are starting on the healing journey. It is "real" and deals with real issues in a constructive way. It was very useful to me when started the journey, as there wasn't much around at the time.