With the Phoenix Rising: Lessons from Ten Resilient Women Who Overcame the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse (Jossey-Bass Psychology) [Hardcover]

Frances K. Grossman (Author), Alexandra B. Cook (Author), Selin S. Kepkep (Author), Karestan C. Koenen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 23, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0787947849 | ISBN-13: 978-0787947842 | Edition: 1

The devastating effects of childhood sexual abuse have been widely chronicled, validating the difficulty with which many survivors struggle. Often overlooked are the millions of women who have overcome early trauma to lead successful, happy lives. Why do these women-whom we might otherwise have expected to fail-have such tremAndous strength and resilience? This question is at the heart of With the Phoenix Rising as it paints a moving and optimistic portrait of ten women who have overcome the trauma of childhood sexual abuse and shows how their resilient success can be encouraged in others who have suffered similar traumas.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Through its emphasis on survivors' strengths and resilience over the life course, this book brings a new focus to the study of child sexual abuse. Therapists, researchers, and survivors will gain an important understanding of resiliency in the context of family, community, and women's lives. The authors give voice to women who have overcome the trauma of abuse." --Linda M. Williams, director of research, the Stone Center, Wellesley College

"This important book breaks new ground. . . . For any reader wishing to be inspired by stories of the human spirit's triumph over adversity." --Daniel Brown, Harvard Medical School, Simmons School of Social Work

"The women's voices of With the Phoenix Rising bring to life the spirit and hope every survivor can discover. This wonderful book has something to offer new clinicians as well as seasoned trauma professionals." --Linda T. Sanford, author of Strong at the Broken Places

"Full of practical wisdom and perspective for trauma clinicians working with all trauma survivor groups. Survivors will find their strengths and dignity cherished without the slightest aid-and-comfort given to perpetrators and their apologists. With the Phoenix Rising palpably enlarges what we know about how a trauma survivor can construct a good human life." --Jonathan Shay, staff psychiatrist, Department of Veteran Affairs; author of Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character

From the Inside Flap

Untold numbers of women have suffered severe childhood abuse and yet show remarkable strength in their ability to persevere in their relationships with themselves and others. In spite of their past and continued pain and suffering, they are able to make sense of their adversity and work to move beyond it, to focus on having a meaningful life filled with love, growth, and connection to community. But why do these women triumph over their painful experiences and memories when, understandably, so many others do not? With the Phoenix Rising tells the stories of ten women who have successfully integrated the experience of traumatic childhood sexual abuse into their lives. Their lessons provide hope for fellow survivors and give clinicians the insight they need to help encourage such resiliency in women with similar devastating histories.The authors, led by Boston University professor Frances Grossman, interviewed and studied ten women over the course of several years to learn what contributed to their resiliency. Their stories-their own sense of what helped them to lead successful lives-have been integrated into a framework essential for mental health professionals who assess and treat women with severe trauma histories. This framework will guide clinicians as they help their clients shift their sense of themselves from damaged to resilient. Clinicians will gain insight into the resilient strategies-setting boundaries, utilizing coping techniques, and looking out for the mind and body-used by these women and how these traits can be developed in their clients.With the Phoenix Rising focuses beyond the pathology that dominates the literature on the subject, enabling behavioral health care practitioners to broaden their perspective regarding survivors to one of strengths, not just pain and injury, and to integrate these factors and processes into working successfully with those who have suffered child abuse.The Resilience of the Human SpiritWhy do some wom

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (July 23, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787947849
• ISBN-13: 978-0787947842
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,234,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a survivor, October 30, 2000

By 

Laura Hopkins (Lubbock, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: With the Phoenix Rising: Lessons from Ten Resilient Women Who Overcame the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse (Jossey-Bass Psychology) (Hardcover)

My therapist gave me this book after I finished therapy and reading the book summed up my life as a resilient survivor. Until I read the book I really didn't realize just how resilient I was. I had always thought of myself as unsuccessful and not useful, but it is amazing to see in print just how successful my life is considering how traumatic and abusive the childhood-adolescent years of my life were. Working in therapy helped more than words can describe, and this book is the closure that I needed. It's nice to know there are so many women who are resilient after such oppressive childhoods. The title really does sum up resiliency in myself and hundreds of other women.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A important resource for both professional and layman., August 18, 1999

By 

V.J. Kordahl (Paris, France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: With the Phoenix Rising: Lessons from Ten Resilient Women Who Overcame the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse (Jossey-Bass Psychology) (Hardcover)

I am most fortunate to have received an early copy and have already taken aid of the book for treatment in one of my abuse cases. I am of the opinion that the work is an important tool for the professional yet I also believe I shall recommend it to lay people. A superb work and I hope to meet the authors during my future visits to the U.S.A.

5.0 out of 5 stars a recommended read for all survivors, November 18, 2009

By 

D. Jennings "Roseanna" (New Haven) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: With the Phoenix Rising: Lessons from Ten Resilient Women Who Overcame the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse (Jossey-Bass Psychology) (Hardcover)

This book is mostly about resiliency. It is so reassuring and the review of the 10 cases provides examples to describe the resilient characteristics and decisions of the survivors. While it is hard to imagine a book that is equally helpful to both the lay person and professionals, this book has that unusual quality. I never though of myself as survivor as being resilient. This book allowed me to see my resiliency, which has played a recent role in my healing.