Healing from the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Journey for Women

by Karen A. Duncan

Overview

The traumatic affects of childhood sexual abuse can remain and recur throughout life for women who have not healed emotionally. This book by a family therapist shares stories from 18 women abused as children, explaining that healing can occur at any stage of life, and that healing, itself, occurs in stages. The author offers guidance to recognize the long-lingering potential affects of childhood sexual abuse including depression, anxiety, dissociation, and chronic shock, and she explains steps to take for recovery. Also presented are letters from women who have healed or are in recovery.

Sexual abuse by men, juveniles, and female perpetrators is discussed, as is how children may act out the abusive behavior taught by perpetrators. The incidence of abuse by family members is also addressed. Duncan explains the dual dilemma—moral and legal—that women face in exposing a sexual perpetrator within the family when not protected by the legal system due to statutes of limitations. She also discusses controversial topics including false memory and disclosure of memory to the perpetrator.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313363214
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/30/2004
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

KAREN A. DUNCAN has 22 years clinical experience working with women, children, and families in their recovery from sexual abuse. She has presented at conferences throughout the United States in the education regarding and prevention of sexual abuse. She is the author of a comprehensive adult education program entitled The Right to Be Safe: Adult Education to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse that is offered free of charge on the Web site www.theright2besafe.org. Duncan has served as Adjunct Professor teaching General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Introduction to Women Studies. She received the 2005 Social Worker of the Year Award for Region 7 from the National Association of Social Workers, Indiana Chapter. Ms. Duncan can be reached through her Web site at www.healing4women.com.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgment
Dedication
Preface
Introduction
The Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Remembering the Trauma of Sexual Abuse
A Legacy of Trauma: A History of Abuse
Chronic Shock Symptoms and Dissociation
The Stages of Healing
Prolonged Problems from Childhood Sexual Abuse
Ending the Pretense
Exposing the Perpetrator: A Moral Decision, Legal Challenge, and Family Dilemma
The Therapeutic Relationship
The Voices of Women
Appendix A: Trauma and Memory
Appendix B: Distorted Thought Patterns
Appendix C: Characteristics of a Healthy Family
Appendix D: Symptoms of Chronic Shock
Appendix E: Managing Anxiety
Appendix F: Dissolving the Outrage
Appendix G: Boundaries
Appendix H: Suggestions for Family Members
Appendix I: Forgiveness
Appendix J: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Resources
Endnotes
Bibliography
Index

What People are Saying About This

Beverly Engel

"Karen Duncan has written a gem of a book. She took her 21 years of clinical experience and study and created an effective treatment program for women who were sexually abused as children. The book offers a wealth of information and support—particularly about the issue of disclosing the sexual abuse to family members and others. I highly recommend it to survivors and their advocates. Professionals working with this population will find the book particularly valuable."

Editorial Reviews

Children should have a safe haven of family love. Sexual abuse makes this impossible. Duncan shares the survival strategies women use to cope with childhood physical and emotional trauma—strategies that include denial, repression, depression, secrecy, and chronic shock that can lead to such lingering problems as mood and eating disorders, substance abuse, dissociation, and self-injury….This book offers theoretical frameworks and practical guidance in the journey toward recovery, everything from understanding the impact of trauma to finding a therapist….Recommended. All collections; all levels.” —Choice

“This book is devoted to the journey women victims of childhood sexual abuse take during their healing process. As such, it offers an interesting perspective that includes not only personal narratives from women who have been traumatized, but also offers a detailed therapeutic process related to each stage of the traveler's journey and examples of women's struggles along the route….[t]his volume provides useful insights for both healers and those being healed. The book uses humanistic, cognitive and feminist perspectives as its theoretical underpinnings, is well documented, has a user friendly index, limited bibliography, and a list of some suggested resources.” —Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare

From the Publisher