Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma: Imagery, Rescripting and Reprocessing (New Directions in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy) [Hardcover]

Mervin R. Smucker (Author), Constance V. Dancu (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0765702134 | ISBN-13: 978-0765702135 | Publication Date: June 1, 1999 | Edition: 1

The increasing frequency with which issues of childhood sexual abuse come up in therapy highlights the need for an effective short-term treatment for these patients. Imagery rescripting and reprocessing therapy, the treatment program described in this book, is an information-processing, schema-focused model in which the recurring traumatic abuse memories are treated with a combination of prolonged imaginal exposure and imaginal rescripting. With the use of both imagery and verbal interventions to activate the entire fear memory and to identify, challenge, modify, and reprocess the recurring traumatic imagery and abuse-related beliefs, a more adaptive schema is created. The authors compre-hensively describe this treatment program, offering step-by-step procedures for each session. Models of all verbal instructions and written materials given to the patient are included for easy use or adaptation. Three treatment formats are demonstrated with detailed extended excerpts from actual sessions. This readable and informative book is a significant advance in the treatment of post-traumatic stress syndrome resulting from early childhood abuse.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book provides an integrative theoretical model of abuse by drawing on cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, and attachment theories. The clarity of the presentation, the detailed and concise treatment manual approach, and the hands-on case studies will give the reader powerful tools for modifying the effects of early abuse. (Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D. )

The authors provide an innovative, compassionate, imagery-based treatment approach for victims of child sexual abuse. They offer detailed treatment guidelines, informative transcripts, and sensitive case reports to illustrate how to empower patients and how to help them find meaning. Highly recommended! (Donald Meichenbaum, Ph.D. )

This is the most comprehensive volume to date on the impact of childhood abuse on adult survivors. In addition to a very careful delineation of the meaning of the sexual and physical abuse, the authors provide a stunning description of the treatment through imagery. This book is a must for any mental health worker whose patients have had childhood trauma. (Aaron T. Beck, M.D. )

About the Author

Mervin R. Smucker, Ph.D., is Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Cognitive-Behavioral Training in the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he also serves as Director of the Cognitive Therapy Institute of Milwaukee. Constance V. Danchu, Ph.D., is the founder and Director of the Center for Cognitive and Behavior Therapy in Wilmington, Delaware. She is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry (Psychology) at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, Hahnemann University, in Philadelphia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Jason Aronson, Inc.; 1 edition (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765702134
• ISBN-13: 978-0765702135
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,009,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Respectful therapy, October 21, 2007

By 

Ricardo B "perpetual student" (Delavan, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma: Imagery, Rescripting and Reprocessing (New Directions in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy) (Hardcover)

This treatment method provides a respectful way to help clients deal with painful traumatic experiences. Soundly grounded in cognitive therapy, the process employs elements of hypnotherapy in that it moves people out of a purely cerebal, cognitive, logical mode into a more right brain, image laden, metaphorical process which facilitates deep healing. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Certified Hypnotherapist, I appreciate the gentle, non-directive, client centered approach offered by this process. This book clearly explains the process in easily understandable, immediately applicable ways. Once a therapeutic relationship creates a safe environment, the client narrates a particularly vivid memory in the present tense. Then, in a second narration, the client finds ways to empower and 'rescript' the event. Finally, through the reprocessing portion, a client achieves a deep inner healing through examining and disputing the cognitive beliefs embedded by the traumatic experience. Often, dealing with one or two vivid events will provide a 'generalizing' effect that processes and heals other dimensions / experiences of trauma.

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-written book for imagery rescripting, November 24, 2003

By 

Wong Chi Kin (Hong Kong, nil China) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma: Imagery, Rescripting and Reprocessing (New Directions in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy) (Hardcover)

This book is well-written to illustrate the cognitive skills in handling abusive experience, particularly the use of imagery rescripting. Once as a participant for Dr. Smucker's workshop, I personally felt convicted of his good experience in treating abusive problems. Thus, don't miss this book.