The Rape Recovery Handbook: Step-By-Step Help for Survivors of Sexual Assault (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Patricia's first step toward healing from sexual assault was to take the risk of reaching out for help..." (more)
Key Phrases: sexual assault counseling, common thinking errors, traumatized self, Other Emotional Issues, United States, Aspect of Life (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Victims of rape often suffer from symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as depression, addiction and other emotional problems.

In this new handbook, an expert in the treatment of PTSD helps rape victims cope with the reality of the experience and deal with the aftermath of conflicting and debilitating feelings. Recovery begins by establishing a safety plan that includes what to expect from recovery, and an understanding of how to treat your self during recovery. Learn how to develop a community and supportive network to assist you during the journey and cope with the anxiety and anger that often arise during this process. Understand how sexual assault can affect many aspects of life. Shatter myths about sexual assault and examine how the experience can change relationships. The final part of the book facilitates the mental reconstruction of the assault to diffuse its emotional power. Counter irrational beliefs, find inner reserves of strength and energy, and regain personal power.

From the Publisher

A woman is raped in this country every two minutes; this is the only step-by-step program that helps these survivors recover from PTSD symptoms and other emotional problems due to this traumatic event. (Rape victims experience the second highest prevalence rate for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—only exceeded by survivors of war)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 190 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications; 1 edition (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572243376
• ISBN-13: 978-1572243378
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #186,597 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #31 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Abuse & Self Defense > Rape
  #89 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help > Abuse

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you've ever been sexually abused, this is a must have to heal in your journey, March 17, 2007

By	flint bookworm "Flintbookworm" (mid-Michigan) - See all my reviews

This book offers constructive things a person can do to heal. Helps you understand your emotions, accept them and do things to increase your positive feelings about yourself after such a traumatic experience. It was so valuable to me--much more understanding words than most therapists provide. Helps you get out negative emotions. Fabulously written by a person who understands. Must have

14 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars READ THIS BOOK, November 13, 2005

By	Leah (Vancouver, WA USA) - See all my reviews

For my research paper, I the topic was the "Effects of Rape". I was off to a rough start, but after reading this book I finished my paper immediately. As a rape victim I HIGHLY recommend this book as a guide to a healthy recovery. It's not your fault...

11 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Patronizing & Fraudulant, October 8, 2008

By	Turtles All The Way Down™ (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

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Her book is really the equivalent of 5 pamphlets on rape(and I mean that in the most literal way)..then there is the perturbing epilogue..titled "It Almost Happened to Me"

Her epilogue:

""One Sunday morning while I was working on this book, a man slipped into my home. I had just come back from the gym, taken off my coat, and turned to shut the door -- only to find a man standing in my hallway. He asked, "Can I come in?" He had a childish face, a timid demeanor, and from the religious pamphlets he was carrying, he appeared to be a missionary of some kind.
But I sensed danger. I slammed the door and yelled at him to go away. I had to yell several times. He finally left. I was calling the police when I looked outside a window and saw him running from one neighbor's backyard to another, peering over their fences. Then, for some reason, he ran away.
I alerted a few neighbors and then I went to church and the grocery store. As usual, I left my backdoor open to carry in my groceries. Within minutes, the man who had come to my door earlier that morning walked into my kitchen. The minute I saw him there, I started to scream loudly and repeatedly. I didn't decide to scream. The screams just started coming out, each one louder than the last. He turned around and left. Even after he fled, I kept on screaming. I couldn't make myself stop, even though I had to call the police.
That evening I tried to continue working on this book, but I couldn't stop shaking. That lasted for some days. For several weeks, I had nausea, nightmares, flashbacks, backaches and was "hyper"--my whole body was on emergency alert.""




Do those words REALLY sound like the words of a Stanford grad?? She sounds either paranoid or like a drama queen. What a coinkidink a potential rapist comes to her house...while she was writing this book!! Seriously, think about that.
She also claims to have been mugged, which is what she based her 1996 book "I Can't Get Over it" on. Then this happens? I don't believe it.
I will be checking her credentials. If she was misleading about her education, I will demand my money back.

EDIT:
I have been in contact with the publishing company of the book and they will be refunding my money and looking into her supposed credentials. Kudos to them.

It is interesting though that I get so many thumbs down for typing up her patronizing epiloque. My guess would be the ones that gave the thumbs down havent been raped, because rape victims should be offended by her minimizing of actual rapes.
I'm sorry, but she did NOT go to Stanford..absolute fraud

2 nonfraudulant books that are truly helpful:

Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence--from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror
&
The PTSD Workbook: Simple, Effective Techniques for Overcoming Traumatic Stress Symptoms