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Child sexual abuse self help and support

This section offers a selection of helpful resources for survivors and support of child sexual abuse and or incest. 

All these resources are available on loan from the Women’s Support Project. You can also request books through your local library.

Download this resource list in pdf format. [58kb]

BOOKS FOR SURVIVORS

Beginning to heal: a first guide for female survivors of child sexual abuse
By Ellen Bass & Laura Davis
Pub. Cedar, London, 1993
By the authors of the ‘Courage to Heal’, this is a summary ofthe main points addressed in the earlier book, with fivesurvivors’ stories. A simply and clearly presented guide tothe healing process with chapters on remembering, breakingsilence, grieving etc. Concise and easy to read and use.

Breaking free : help for survivors of childsexual abuse.
By Carolyn Ainscouth & Kay Toon
Pub Insight, 1993
This book is primarily a self-help book for adult survivors Itcontains information about sexual abuse, the kinds ofproblems it can cause and ways in which survivors can beginto deal with these problems. The authors draw on theirexperiences, working mainly with women, as psychologists in Wakefield. The information is also useful for family, relativesand helpers.

Breaking free workbook practical help for survivors of child sexual abuse
By Carolyn Ainscouth & Kay Toon
Pub. The Sheldon Press, London, 2000
Practical exercises designed to offer survivors different ways to think about the past, and give new strategies to begin to move on from problems that disrupt the present . This workbook may also be of use to those who have been abused physically and/or emotionall

The courage to heal - a guide for women survivors of child sexual abuse
By Ellen Bass and Laura Davis Pub. Harper & Row, USA, 1988
Very comprehensive, and suitable for using on your own, with a counsellor or friend, or in a group.

The courage to heal workbook - for women and men survivors of child sexual abuse.
By Laura Davis
Pub. Harper & Row, USA, 1990
Intended as a companion to “The courage to heal”, this includes checklists, writing exercises, arts projects and activities.

My true selves an experience of multiple personality
By Jenifer Anthony-Black
Pub. Busy Bee Graphics, Leicester, 1996
One woman’s experience of multiple personality. Includes sections on the effects of childhood sexual abuse, subconscious defences, counselling and multiple personality, Useful to both survivors and workers.

Outgrowing the pain
By Eliana Gil, PhD
Pub. Launch press, USA, 1983
 A very useful brief book which explains in simple language and with the use of cartoons and humour what the effects of child sexual abuse are and how survivors can help themselves to overcome the effects of this abuse. Although the book gives credence to the cycle of violence theory it is otherwise very helpful guide to self help

Repressed memories a journey
By Renee Fredrickson, PhD
Pub. Fireside Books, USA, 1992
A useful, stimulating read. A good self-help book, but only if used in conjunction with good support - and understanding friend , partner, survivor or counsellor. Gives methods of recovering memories such as dream work and imagistic work. Each chapter ends with a set of exercises which are intended to empower the reader.

She who is lost is remembered
healing from incest through creativity
By Louise M. Wisechild
Pub. The Seal Press, USA, 1991
 An anthology of creative work by survivors: poetry, short stories, painting, sketches photography, sculpture, songs.by women contributors. Their art is accompanied by personal essays which describe how women have used the creative powers as part of a healing experience.

United we stand a book for people with multiple personalities
By Eliana Gill, PhD
Pub. Launch Press, USA, 1990
A very useful book which explains what multiple personality is, and ways of dealing with it

Why me? Help for victims of child sexual abuse
By Lynn Daugherty
Pub. Mother Courage Press, USA 1984
This book uses brief accounts from a number of incest survivors and attempts to provide a guide to recovery by high-lighting some of the long term effects and suggesting ways to counteract this. Quite useful but fails to challenge some of the myths like the cycle of violence.

The woman inside from incest victim to survivor
By Patty Derosier Barnes
Pub. Mother Courage Press, USA, 1989
A workbook which you can work through in your own time, or from which you can use exercises or ideas. Covers the main issues of child abuse and offers positive suggestions.

BOOKS FOR PARTNERS/FAMILY/FRIENDS

Allies in healing: when the person you love was sexually abused as a child
By Laura Davis
Pub. Harper Perennial, USA, 1991
A helpful support for partners of survivors. Areas covered range from basic explanations of child sexual abuse and its effects on the adult, to a wide variety of issues arising in relationships with survivors.

Family fallout  a handbook for families of adult sexual abuse survivors
By Dorothy Beaulieu Landry
Pub. Safer Society Press, USA, 1991
A helpful book for those close to an adult who has disclosed or is dealing with childhood sexual abuse. helps families to understand the healing process and look at their own feelings about the abuse.

Outgrowing the pain together a book for spouses and partners of adults abused as children
By Eliana Gil, PhD
Pub. Dell, USA, 1992
A book which will help understand the effects of childhood sexual abuse. Includes information on anger management, intimacy, decision making, commitment etc.

Partners in recovery.
By Beverly Engel, M.F.C.C.
Pub. Fawcett Columbine, 1991
A book for mates, lovers and friends of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Intended to help these ‘pro survivors’ to learn how to support and cope with survivors as they go through the recovery process.

BOOKS FOR COUNSELLORS/SUPPORTERS

Counselling adult survivors of child sexual
abuse. By Christiane Sanderson
Pub. Jessica Kingsley, London, 1995
Helpful overview for counsellors/supporters

Good practice in counselling people who have
been abused
Ed By Zetta Bear,
Pub. Jessica Kingsley, London, 1998
Helpful collection of papers. Recommended

Lifting the lid: A practical guide to working with
people abused in childhood
By Lois Arnold & Anne Magill. Pub. The Basement
Project, Bristol, 1999
Brief introduction to issues involved in working with survivors of abuse.

Surviving child sexual abuse: a handbook for
helping women challenge their past.
By Liz Hall and Siobhan Lloyd
Pub. Farmer Press, London, 1989
A very useful book for anyone supporting a survivor. Outlines the long term effects of incest, stages of recovery, working with incest survivors groups, therapeutic techniques and issues for helpers. A very useful book.

Surviving secrets.
By Moira Walker
Pub. Open University Press, 1992
Makes extensive use of adult survivors first hand accounts of child abuse (sexual, physical, and psychological). .Includes accounts of their attempts to tell. and explores the effects of abuse on their adult lives. Includes experience of both men and women, and abuse by both sexes. Ends with outline of
key stages in the counselling process and looks briefly at issues for workers. Interesting.

VIDEOS

Breaking Silence
I hour
Documentary from America on child sexual abuse. Interviews adults who were abused as children inter cuts with newspaper headlines, home videos and family snap shots etc. Highlights how hidden the problem is and includes some insight into analysing children`s drawings.

Story of Hope: Marilyn Van Derbur Atler
Colorado~ USA 1992 53minutes
The woman who was Miss America 1958 recounts her experience as an incest survivor which she publicly
announced when she was in her early fifties. She gives a moving and empowering speech. encouraging other survivors "replace shame with pride- pride in our courage, pride in our persistence, pride in our survival." 

Internal strength
24 minutes
This video shows excerpts from sessions where four young women and a facilitator talk about their experiences of abuse and how they have gained some understanding of and control over what has happened to them. Particularly recommend for similar groups of women or anyone wanting to start up a  group for women surviving childhood sexual abuse. Good