Book Reviews
Reviewed by
Healing
the Trauma of Abuse: A Woman’s Workbook,
by Mary Ellen Copeland, M.A., M.S., and Maxine Harris, Ph.D. (New Harbinger,
2000).
I am always happy to see books published that can be of
great use to people who may not have access to or want mental health services.
This is one of those, a wonderful workbook written for women who are survivors
of physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse, whether it occurred in childhood
or adulthood. The authors not only educate the reader, but facilitate her in
beginning recovery from trauma if she so chooses, and
it does so in a self-respectful way. Even if you do not choose to do the
exercises described in the workbook, there is much to be gained from reading
it. It is a book that is not meant to be gone through once but returned to time
and time again as growth continues.
Healing
the Trauma of Abuse is divided into four sections:
Empowerment, Trauma Recovery, Creating Life Changes, and Closing Rituals. Each
of these contains multiple topics with various exercises and activities that
allow the reader to explore her circumstances in regard to the topic. One
particular topic, Self-Destructive Behaviors, may be of particular interest to
those living with SIV. SIV is included in this section as one of many
self-injurious behaviors that people turn to to manage the after effects of
abuse. It is a relief to see it included in this part as one of many behaviors,
and not treated as something horrid or insane. While not pushing or demanding
that readers stop using self-destructive behaviors, the authors provide guiding
questions that help the reader identify the purpose the behavior serves and
discover possible alternatives to managing those stressors.
I celebrate the way the impact of abuse is identified in
this work, and how healing is approached from the perspective of compassionate
empowerment. I believe that this workbook will allow many women to discover and
begin to heal from the abuse that they have suffered, abuse that has left them
in great pain and potentially needing SIV. This book is a friend, a companion,
to help one heal the wounds.
To Order: click here
When
Mom Hurts (Talking to Kids about SIV) By Paja Russell.
(Self-Published)
Paja Russell has been writing books for children for a long
time, and I congratulate her for taking on this very difficult topic to help
children comprehend SIV and decrease their fear and confusion about it. Not an
easy feat considering how most adults react!
Paja’s book has been well received by children and, although
intended for the 4-6 year-old, it can be used with older children as well.
Creatively, this book is intended to be a coloring book, giving the children an
activity to do while exploring the topic.
Paja has a very helpful “parents page” that comes with the
booklet. It contains suggestions on how to use the book and explains various
vocabulary choices to use when talking to children. I particularly like her
introduction, in which she states: “Should we talk to our kids about SIV? Yes, Yes we should. No matter how well hidden the act is and no
matter how well the scars are concealed, our kids see. They see the bandages,
the wounds, the scars, they even see our pain. Their little minds whirl and
come up with scary thoughts….Opening the door for conversations on the subject
of SIV is to put knowledge in their heads and drive fear/anxiety from their
hearts.” This books does just that—it opens the door
to understanding.
While Paja, at this point, is self-publishing this work and
only requesting postage costs, I urge all of us to support her in publication
of this work through our donations and gratitude. She is helping our children
understand something which most of us dared not speak out about for so very
long.
To Order: Write to Paja Russell,