The Courage to Heal Workbook: A Guide for Women and Men Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse [Paperback]

Laura Davis (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 28, 1990 | ISBN-10: 0060964375 | ISBN-13: 978-0060964375 | Edition: 1st

In this groundbreaking companion to The Courage to Heal, Laura Davis offers an inspiring, in-depth workbook that speaks to all women and men healing from the effects of child sexual abuse. The combination of checklists, writing and art Projects, open-ended questions and activities expertly guides the survivor through the healing process.

• Survival Skills—Teaches survivors to create a safe, supportive environment, ask for help, deal with crisis periods, and choose therapy.
• Aspects Of Healing—Focuses on the healing process: gaining a capacity for hope, breaking silence, letting go of shame, turning anger into action, planning a confrontation, preparing for family contact, and affirming personal progress.
• Guidelines For Healing Sexually—Redefines the concept of "safe sex" and establishes healthy ground rules for sexual contact.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Laura Davis is the author of The Courage to Heal Workbook, Allies in Healing, Becoming the Parent You Want to Be, and I Thought We'd Never Speak Again. She teaches writing and lives with her family in Santa Cruz, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 463 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; 1st edition (February 28, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060964375
• ISBN-13: 978-0060964375
• Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 7.5 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > Self-Help > Abuse
  • #37 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Gender Studies
  • #45 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Women's Studies

More About the Author

Laura Davis is the author of seven non-fiction books, including The Courage to Heal, Becoming the Parent You Want to Be and I Thought We'd Never Speak Again. Laura's groundbreaking books have sold more than 1.8 million copies around the world. Laura has also worked as a columnist, talk show host, radio reporter, radio producer, blogger, editor, and speaker. Words have always been at the core of her work and her self-expression.

She says, "Writing has been a companion of mine my whole life. I have used words to understand myself, to express myself, to provoke, to educate, to inspire, to make my mark in the world. I've been an author seven times over, a talk show host, a news reporter, a workshop leader, a speaker, a blogger, a columnist, and a writing teacher. Everything I've ever done has focused on communication, using words--both spoken and written--to open hearts and minds. For as long as I can remember, I've always been an agent of change. Although my pathway keeps changing, words are always at the center."

Currently, Laura leads weekly writing groups and memoir writing retreats in the Santa Cruz, CA region, as well as in Bali and Scotland, and she has been mentoring and supporting writers for the past 20 years.

It is truly the work of her heart: "I love teaching. I love watching my students find their natural voice and their rhythm. I love it when they find their true stories and discover the courage to put them on the page. I feel like a midwife as my students birth their stories, and I feel honored to witness their bursts of creativity and pure life energy pouring out on the page. Our writing circles are safe places where skills are honed, tears and laughter are welcome, and each writer is seen, heard and deeply known."

Laura leads weekly writing groups and memoir writing retreats in the Santa Cruz, CA region, as well as an annual summer writing retreat in Bolinas, California, a two-week long writing and yoga retreat in Bali, 10 days in a Scottish castle, and other international retreats.

Laura has created and moderates a vibrant online writing community. She sends free weekly inspirational quote and writing prompt, called the Writer's Journey Roadmap each week. Readers can post their written responses to the weekly prompts online. To learn more about Laura, her books or her workshops, visit Laura's website.

www.lauradavis.net
www.lauradavis.net/roadmap
facebook: Laura Davis & The Writer's Journey

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 67 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has changed my life November 20, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

The Courage to Heal Workbook (and it's companion book) are the best books I have read on the subject of healing from Child Sexual Abuse. And I have read a lot! This book does as it's title suggests - it encourages the growth of courage in dealing with difficult issues. While the work is challenging, it is also very hopeful. I have developed new coping skills and I have improved my relationship with myself and with others. With the help of this book and it's companion I feel I am getting to a place where dealing with my past abuse is manageable rather than overwhelming, as it has felt in the past. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a survivor of childhood sexual assault. It is a fantastic resource.

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I started the "Healing Process" because of this book! November 9, 1999

By Victoria ([e-mail])

Format:Paperback

A friend suggested this book when I struggled with my memories of childhood/adult incest and sexual abuse. It helped me realize I was not "crazy!" I have had this book for many years now, and have read alot of books on abuse. I believe this is the best book I've ever read to aid in my recovery. It was a difficult book to read, but worth it, as it has made me aware of many of the issues that I did not even realize existed. As a person with DID(MPD)I blocked alot out. This book helped me to come to terms with my abuse. For the first time I read "You don't have to forgive!"

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Why I Like this workbook.... February 19, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I have used this book for about 4 years now...both in therapy and on my own....it has been an excellent tool for helping to develop new coping skills and for learning more about myself...me....and the kind of support that i have/need.....I HIGHLY recommend that you have some kind of support when doing this workbook....because it can be very intense....but it's worth it....

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the courage to heal workbook August 1, 2005

By J. L. allen

Format:Paperback

I purchased this book on recommendation of my therapist. I am a survivor of emotional, physical and sexual child abuse. I almost killed myself during the last year. After having 4 doctors, who did not know my childhood background, recommend I get into therapy, I finally did. I am reading tons of books and filling out the courage to heal workbook, as I start addressing these childhood tradgies. The most important thing I have gained from the book so far, I'm not crazy, I'm not alone (the numbers are staggering), my negative behavior can be modified, and I can possibly find peace and stop negatively impacting all the people I come in contact with. Iif you are a survivor, or suspect that you are, read this and anything else you can get your hands on. You deserve to have what happened to you validated and to seek help to improve your life and peace. Thanks to all the people out there that can say "INCEST" and are trying raise public awareness and provide support so all of us survivors can heal and stop the pain. I am 49 years old, female and was sexually violated by two offenders. I talked about the first offender, my uncle, when I was 18, it got swept under the rug and basically justified by saying I was mentally unstable. The memories of my father are just now presenting themselves. Your not crazy and it's not your imagination, and this book does a fantastic job explaining and showing how badly this affects your adult life and especially your relationships.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book saved my life June 7, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

The courage to heal workbook was recommended to me by my therapist. Together we worked through the book. It made me think of things that I had for gotten. I started to realize just how much damage was done to me because of my abusers. This book has helped me more than I can say. I now realize why I started drinking more and have become addicted.I still work with my therapist every two weeks and we have made great progress because of this book. I recommend this book for surivors.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars recommendations- February 26, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I had read "Courage To Heal Workbook" first, Then went back and got "Courage to Heal". I was then recommended by my Doctor to go and get "Nightmares Echo" and "Beauty For Ashes".
Each book helps in so many ways. If you are a past victim of abuse I would recommend that you start with "Courage To Heal", then "Nightmares Echo", then "Beauty For Ashes" (spiritual) and finally "The Workbook". The WorkBook Brings it all together and sums it up. Helping to strengthen and learn new techniques for your life.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Workbook is my Guide to Healing June 30, 2006

By Darlene Bell

Format:Paperback

Just as The Courage to Heal was my Bible in helping me get through the crisis stage of sexual abuse revisited, helping me to decipher what it was I was feeling, and that it was perfectly normal, probably more normal than anything in my life ever had been, and letting me know what I may be going through next, and how people might react to me, ect.....This Courage to Heal Workbook is my homework in learning to become the person I should have started out as. I do a chapter a day, but you can do it a chapter a week, or at your own pace. Pre-reading The Courage to Heal is not necessary, either. It's all self-explanatory. Encourages one to give lots of deep thought to differing topics and to answer honestly and in depth. I strongly recommend this workbook to anyone struggling to heal the wounds of childhood sexual abuse. It allows you to get to know the real you inside all of the protective layers that have been unconsciencously piled on over the years....not who you want people to know, but who you really are, and who you were really meant to be. A bright shining star!