The Right to Innocence: Healing the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Therapeutic 7-Step Self-Help Program for Men and Women, Including How to Choose a Therapist and Find a Support Group [Mass Market Paperback]

Beverly Engel (Author), Eleanor Hamilton (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 29, 1990

"A practical and powerful must-read book for all who have suffered childhood sexual abuse, their family members and loved ones, and for all mental health professionals."
Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D.
Author of MAKING PEACE WITH YOUR PARENTS
As a trained therapist and sufferer of sexual abuse herself, Beverly Engel knows that there is probably no trauma a child can suffer that makes her or him feel more alone than sexual abuse. This helpful book offers hope for recovery with exercises, visualizations, and techniques that support you through a seven-step program, that will aid you in: facing the truth, releasing your anger, confronting those responsible with facts and feelings, forgiving yourself, and more healing advice and information.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-- Two books, intended for victims of childhood sexual abuse, with different approaches. Step on a Crack is written in first person and tells a narrative horror story that is interspersed with sections of letters to the abused offering advice and counsel. The Right to Innocence is more in the style of a self-help manual. It includes a chapter for the mates and loved ones of survivors. Camille's book is more thorough and specific, while Engel's book is good as a general overview of the subject. Both books conclude with a resource/bibliography section that provides a good beginning for more information and help.
- Carolyn Henebry, Episcopal High School, Bellaire, Tex.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

"A practical and powerful must-read book for all who have suffered childhood sexual abuse, their family members and loved ones, and for all mental health professionals."
Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D.
Author of MAKING PEACE WITH YOUR PARENTS
As a trained therapist and sufferer of sexual abuse herself, Beverly Engel knows that there is probably no trauma a child can suffer that makes her or him feel more alone than sexual abuse. This helpful book offers hope for recovery with exercises, visualizations, and techniques that support you through a seven-step program, that will aid you in: facing the truth, releasing your anger, confronting those responsible with facts and feelings, forgiving yourself, and more healing advice and information.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Ivy Books (January 29, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804105855
• ISBN-13: 978-0804105859
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Parenting & Families > Family Relationships > Dysfunctional Relationships
  • #48 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help > Self-Esteem
  • #52 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Parenting & Families > Family Health

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for beginners in recovery., May 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Right to Innocence: Healing the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Therapeutic 7-Step Self-Help Program for Men and Women, Including How to Choose a Therapist and Find a Support Group (Mass Market Paperback)

By the time I found this book, I'd already read many others dealing with the harsh & painful topic of sexual abuse in childhood. I wish this book had been the first book on recovery I'd found. It is one which I buy to loan or pass on to friends new to recovery. All books on abuse are difficult to read, but 'The Right to Innocence' makes the step into recovery more bearable than some of the other books available.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Starting Point for the Journey of Healing, March 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Right to Innocence: Healing the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Therapeutic 7-Step Self-Help Program for Men and Women, Including How to Choose a Therapist and Find a Support Group (Mass Market Paperback)

When I was 24 I went to see a therapist because my life was completely falling apart. At the recommendation of my therapist I read this book. When I finished the book and my therapy I no longer felt a victim, but empowered to trust myself and let the hurt and self-destructive behavior go. I have not read the book in over 15 years, but over the years I have given much credit of my healing to this book and have recommended it repeatedly. I remember that there were times I had to put down the book because what the author was saying would cause me to feel so much anger/pain. I would pick up the book later and ironically almost the next paragraph the author would speak about the anger and/or pain I had been facing. My experience has been that only someone who has gone through the pain of childhood sexual abuse can truly understand those painful steps of healing. And YES you can heal from this kind of abuse and this book is a good starting point.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful and very supportive, March 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Right to Innocence: Healing the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Therapeutic 7-Step Self-Help Program for Men and Women, Including How to Choose a Therapist and Find a Support Group (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read several books on child sexual abuse but many of them overwhelmed me. This book is concise and to the point and the examples are not horrific. I learned a great deal about incest and about my family situation and found out that my reactions are normal considering what I've been through. The book helped me come out of denial more and left me feeling empowered knowing that there are steps I can take to achieve recovery. I especially liked the sections dispelling common myths because they it provided me with ammunition when family members try to talk me out of my feelings.