The Invisible Wound: A New Approach to Healing Childhood Sexual Abuse [Hardcover]

Wayne Kritsberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1992

A guide to healing the wounds of childhood sexual abuse employs case histories to show how the memory of abuse can be distorted and how the survivor can create a ""safe place"" for healing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Kritsberg ( Gifts: Skills for Personal Growth and Recovery ), who leads personal growth and recovery workshops, has crafted a remarkable, almost do-it-yourself approach to working through the psychic damage caused by early sexual trauma. The emphasis here is on how victims repress their memories and feelings, which can later manifest themselves as psychical problems. Kritsberg's definition of childhood sexual abuse, more inclusive than most, fittingly encompasses emotional sexual abuse. He shows adult survivors ways to break through defenses, jog memories and replace pain with positive feelings. He suggests body work--to get to physical memories--and journal writing such as speaking with one's body to sharpen understanding. There are also separate healing affirmations for men and women. The author provides examples to show that both men and women are abused as well as abusers. This is a supportive and coherent guide.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This is a self-help manual written for those who have experienced sexual abuse in childhood. The first section discusses types of childhood sexual abuse and its possible physical, emotional, and cognitive effects. The next section analyzes the process of healing and recovery, using case histories derived from the author's clinical practice. The third section details how to keep a "healing journal," in which the reader can perform exercises in self-exploration and self-affirmation and thus begin to integrate the cognitive and emotional experiences of recovery. Though the author's explanation of how recovery occurs ranges into the metaphysical, this book should be both helpful and reassuring to survivors and valuable to therapists. For academic and large public libraries.
- Bonnie Hoffman, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 261 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (December 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553089846
• ISBN-13: 978-0553089844
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,639,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can heal., February 11, 2000

By 

robb (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Invisible Wound: A New Approach to Healing Childhood Sexual Abuse (Hardcover)

This is the most powerful book I have ever read. If you were sexually abused as a child, work with abused children, or are the spouse, friend or parent of a child who has suffered this trauma, please read this book. The power to heal does exist. You are not alone. This book contains many first-hand accounts of survivors, as well as deep insights into the healing process. Kritsberg's compassion, support, and guidence will empower you to move through your pain and onto the full, vibrant life that is your birthright.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE book for healing childhood sexual abuse, June 9, 2000

By 

Linda Hunter (Gonzales, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Invisible Wound: A New Approach to Healing Childhood Sexual trauma (Paperback)

Survivors of childhood sexual abuse, their friends, family, and anyone who works with survivors will use this book as a companion and guide to healing. Kritsberg honors survivors with his absolutely firm belief that each one has within all that is needed to heal. None of the myth that survivors must spend their entire lives dealing with the trauma of abuse lurks within the pages of this excellent book. Here, both survivors and counselors come heart to heart not only with the conviction that healing is within reach, but they also find tools for the process available nowhere else. As a survivor of sexual abuse and now one who helps guide others through their own healing process, I recommend this book to the people I work with and to those fortunate ones who can find a copy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The bloodless wound!, September 22, 2009

By 

Dr. Loren Due "DrLorenDue" (Front Range, CO) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Invisible Wound: A New Approach to Healing Childhood Sexual Abuse (Paperback)

This is one of the best books that I have read with regard to sexual abuse. I was wounded by my family which caused me to not trust anyone. The bloodless cutting and hurt inflicted by my family is described so intensely in this book.

It is a book of healing and deliverance to bring a person to the reality of what has happened at the hands of family and friends when they are sexually abused.
In my book "Don't Say a Word About This! Exposing and Confronting Sexual Perversion" I discuss these issues from a biblical point-of-view and give the option of choice.

This is a must have book - The Invisible Wound.

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