It Happened to Me: A Teen's Guide to Overcoming Sexual Abuse (workbook) [Paperback]

William Lee Carter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2002

Whether sexual abuse happens in early childhood or just before leaving home, most trauma survivors find that the teenage and early adult years are crucial for their recovery. With the right kind of support, it's then that they have the motivation and capacity for insight that will let them begin the process of healing.

This workbook is written for teens and those who treat them. Simple, effective exercises help teens learn about the different aspects of trauma, share the thoughts and emotions of other survivors, clarify their own ideas and beliefs, and explore new ways of feeling and relating. Author William Lee Carter is a psychologist who works with sexually abused teens on a daily basis, and his approach is positive and sensitive to the needs and feelings of this age group. The exercises he provides focus on giving teens the strength and confidence they need to reshape their self-image, connect with others in healthy ways, and develop the skills they need to realize their full potential.

Editorial Reviews

Review

About the Author

William Lee Carter, EdD, is a psychologist in private practice and director of psychology at Cedar Crest Hospital and Residential Treatment Center in Belton, TX. The author of five books on teens and parenting, Carter lives in Waco, TX.

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications; 1 edition (May 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572242795
• ISBN-13: 978-1572242791
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.5 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #81 in Books > Self-Help > Abuse
  • #85 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Relationships > Dysfunctional Relationships

More About the Author

Dr. Lee Carter, author of Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together: Parenting a Distressed Child (see also: http://distressedchild.com), is a psychologist in private practice. Since 1983, Dr. Carter has provided psychological services in a broad range of settings, including outpatient, inpatient, and residential treatment environments. In addition to his license as a psychologist, he has specialty certification in psychological evaluation and assessment.

Dr. Carter became especially interested in evaluating and treating traumatized and distressed children and teens while working in inpatient psychiatric hospitals. During the 1990s, he was on staff at a central Texas residential treatment center and was instrumental in developing a treatment program for sexually abused adolescent females.

Since 2002, Dr. Carter has concentrated solely on conducting psychological evaluations and providing court-related services. In addition to trauma cases, he has a keen interest in personality and identity development and evaluates a broad spectrum of children, teens, and adults. He has authored several books, including his newest, Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together and the highly regarded workbook for adolescent and young adult sexual abuse victims, It Happened To Me.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars All teen and young adult survivors need this workbook June 4, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This workbook is just excellent! I have trouble putting it down! It manages to be relevant to a wide variety of teens, without being too technical, too cutesy, or too preachy. Each exercise is short (2-3 pages) but challenging. There are also quotes from teen survivors and sidebars that point out problem behaviors common in abuse survivors without being judgmental. As a college student, I'm a little too old to be the intended audience of this book (all the teens mentioned in here are between the ages of 13-18), but as someone who still has to deal with her parents on a regular basis, I appreciated that lots of the exercises here dealt with family matters under the assumption that you're still living and dealing with your family, something that's not in many of the adult books. Guys might not like that pretty much all the pronouns are "she" and "her", but otherwise it's still a very relevant book for every teen survivor. It can be completed by yourself, in a group, or as part of therapy. Topics covered include emotions and emotional manipulation, keeping secrets, impulsive behaviors, how to get along with other people, sex, suicide, and commitment to recovery. The emphasis is not on "name your disorder" but on returning to emotional health. Even if you have to make a secret trip to the bookstore and hide this book in the back of your closet, it's worth it.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "It Happened" helped me June 10, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I am a teenager and read this book because a friend recommended it to me. She had read about it in Seventeen magazine and knew that it related to some things I've been through. The exercises made me think about the past in a good way - a way that helped me see that I can be a good person no matter what I've been through. The psychologist who wrote this book knows teenagers. I felt like he knew me and knew just what I needed to work through my issues. Also, I loved the quotes from teenagers that were scattered through the book. If you need help working through sexual abuse, It Happened To Me can help you too.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read July 5, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This workbook is a MUST. It is a workbook related to abuse and can help anyone who has been through trauma and going through the healing process. I have done some of the exercises by myself and some in a small group. I strongly recommend this workbook. I have a hard time putting the book down between exercises, because I truely feel that this book is helping me cope.