Memory and Abuse: Remembering and Healing the Effects of Trauma (Paperback)

~ Charles Whitfield (Author) "Jane is 35 years old, married, and has two children..." (more)
Key Phrases: traumatic forgetting, internal corroboration, original pain work, Stage Zero, Gary Ramona, Stage One (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Remembering what happened in any traumatic experience is basic and crucial to healing. For over 100 years the memory of abuse survivors has been questioned and challenged by all sorts of people, ranging from perpetrators to family members. More recently, this memory has been challenged by a combination of accused family members, their lawyers and a few academics who claim the existence of a "false memory syndrome."

In this groundbreaking book Charles Whitfield, voted by his peers as being one of the best doctors in America, brings his clinical experience and knowledge about traumatic memory to us. He examines, explores and clarifies this critical issue that threatens to invalidate the experience of survivors of trauma and handcuff the helping professionals who assist them as they heal. This thorough, insightful work provides crucial information for anyone affected by a traumatic experience.

About the Author

Charles L. Whitfield MD is a pioneer in trauma recovery, including the way we remember childhood and other trauma and abuse. A physician and front line therapist who assists trauma survivors in their healing, he is  the author of fifty published articles and ten best-selling books on trauma psychology and recover.

For over twenty-three years he has taught at Rutgers University's Institute on Alcohol and Drug Studies. He has been a consultant and research collaborator at the CDC since 1998. He has a private practice in Atlanta, Ga, where he provides  individual and group therapy for trauma survivors and people with addictions and other problems in living. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 375 pages
• Publisher: HCI; 1St Edition edition (July 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558743200
• ISBN-13: 978-1558743205
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #411,388 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly AND compelling, July 13, 2000

By	J. C. Hemeyer (Muncie IN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a closely-reasoned, scholarly, and somewhat clinical book. Not an "easy read" by any means (it has over 700 reference endnotes!). Well-done charts and lists do help make a great deal of information more manageable. That said, I found it gripping, because he describes my own experience of both trauma and healing so accurately. There is good information on post traumatic stress disorder and its relationship to sexual abuse. He addresses the debate over "false memory syndrome" extensively and, I think, quite well. Throughout, his tone is compassionate and engaged. As both a survivor and one who supports others in their journeys to wholeness, I highly recommend Dr. Whitworth's book for clinicians as well as survivors and those who support us.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars abuse, trauma, memory, and healing, August 2, 2002

By	Oceana - See all my reviews

I've read many books about abuse, trauma, memory and healing. This is one of the best and most comprehensive books I have read on this topic. This book covers many different aspects of abuse, post-traumatic stress, and traumatic memory. Provides a comprehensive understanding of the different ways that people experience traumatic memory such as denial, dissociation, and repression. The book also explains the many different reasons why this can occur. In addition the author addresses the claims of the FMSF in detail, and sheds light on the biased and uninformed foundation literature.

The author's tone is very healing for abuse survivors. He incorporates a sense of spirituality. He weaves many insightful quotes into the book. He shows a deep respect for women. This book is more than a book on memory, this is a book on understanding the effects of abuse and finding a personal healing to ultimately transcend the abuse. He also brings intensive clinical knowledge, understanding, and experience to the book. Charles Whitfield is clearly very kind, sensitive, caring, and insightful. His explanation of "the child going into hiding" is a magnificent explanation of the effects of severe child abuse within the home, and the goals of healing.

I also recommend "Betrayal Trauma" by Jennifer Freyd and "Unchained Memories" by Lenore Terr. Also "Secret Survivors" has been one of the most healing books I have read on the after effects of incest. See my listmania for other recommendations on healing from incest, sexual abuse, and trauma.

39 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent look at PTSD and exposure of the FMS foundation, April 9, 1999

By A Customer

Charles Whitfield is compassionate toward the survivors of sexual abuse. He addresses the effects of PTSD. He validates the memories of survivors, and blows the lid off the "False Memory Syndrome" which is actually not a valid psychologically substantiated syndrome at all. He also exposes the history of False Memory Syndrome Foundation--a "foundation" that will accept anyone who is accused of committing sexual abuse against a child and was founded by parents who were themselves rightly accused of sexual abuse. Hat's off to Charles Whitfield. He has once again provided help and compassionate insight which will aid in the healing of child sexual abuse survivors.