With the Phoenix Rising: Lessons from Ten Resilient Women Who Overcame the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse / Edition 1

by Frances K. Grossman, Alexandra B. Cook, Selin S. Kepkep, Karestan C. Koenen

Overview

The devastating effects of childhood sexual abuse have been widely chronicled, validating the difficulty with which many survivors struggle. Often overlooked are the millions of women who have overcome early trauma to lead successful, happy lives. Why do these women-whom we might otherwise have expected to fail-have such tremandous strength and resilience? This question is at the heart of With the Phoenix Rising as it paints a moving and optimistic portrait of ten women who have overcome the trauma of childhood sexual abuse and shows how their resilient success can be encouraged in others who have suffered similar traumas.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780787947842
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	08/11/1999
Series:	Jossey-Bass Psychology
Edition description:	1 ED
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

FRANCES K. GROSSMAN, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Psychology at Boston University.Alexandra B. Cook, Ph.D., is the director of children's services at the Trauma Center, Arbour Health Systems. Selin S. Kepkep, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice. Karestan C. Koenen, Ph.D., is a psychology fellow at the Payne Whitney Clinic of New York Hospital.Cook, Kepkep, and Koenen studied under Frances Grossman at Boston University's doctoral program in clinical psychology.

ALEXANDRA B. COOK, Ph.D., is the director of children's services at The Trauma Center, Arbour Health Systems.

SELIN S. KEPKEP, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice.

KARESTAN C. KOENEN, Ph.D., is a psychology fellow at the Payne Whitney Clinic of New York Hospital. Cook, Kepkep, and Koenen studied under Frances Grossman at Boston University's doctoral program in clinical psychology.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Part I: Setting the Stage

1 Resiliency 3

2 The Women’s Stories 23

Part II: Safe Havens, Important Relationships

3 School and Work 49

4 Intimate Relationships 69

5 Relationships with Children 79

6 Relationships Outside the Family 95

Part III: Processes and Strategies for Developing Resiliency

7 The Role of Psychotherapy 113

8 The Management of Feelings 137

9 The Importance of Self-Care 171

10 Making Sense of the Abuse 189

Part IV: A Lifelong Process

11 Revisiting the Participants 215

Appendix: Research Methodology 239

References 243

About the Authors 249

Index 253

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Cindy L. Gilbert, MSW, LSW (Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This book offers an in-depth look at ten survivors of sexual and other abuse, and tries to pinpoint the characteristics that enabled the women to survive and even thrive. It is organized into four parts, each containing several chapters.
Purpose: The authors wanted examine resiliency in survivors of traumatic abuse in hopes of finding common characteristics or coping tools that can be taught to other survivors of such abuse. Clearly any methods or techniques that can be implemented to help abuse and trauma victims overcome their histories would be widely welcomed. While no panacea was found, the authors determined that these women had some characteristics and strengths in common which may act as indicators of resiliency in other survivors.
Audience: This book is intended for a professional audience. It may be of particular interest to therapists who focus on trauma survivors or women's issues. The authors have many years of experience and write convincingly on their topic.
Features: The authors begin by offering their own understanding of resiliency. They then proceed to reveal the life stories of the ten women. In Part I each of the women involved in the study is described and the authors related how they were recruited to participate in the study. Some demographic information is provided, each woman's story of abuse is told. In Part II the discussion centers on how these women were able to use things such as school and work as safe havens. The authors also indicate that each of the women had been able to develop some kind of positive, appropriate relationship either currently or in the past that was instrumental in helping the them see their own strengths and learn to manage relationships. Some of the women were helped by relationships with children, others by relationships with close friends, and still others by relationships with spouses or domestic partners. The authors recognize the importance of a special pet or doll to some of their subjects as well. In Part III the authors describe the ways in which they believe the ten women developed resiliency, as well as how resiliency might be encouraged in clients. This part of the discussion includes such topics as the role of therapy and the importance of caring for oneself. Part IV is composed of just one chapter in which the authors revisit the women several years after the initial interviews. The text is peppered throughout with suggestions for applying the information presented in the clinical setting. The authors have thoroughly researched their topic, as indicated by the lengthy list of references. Another useful item is the detailed description of their methodology at the end of the book, as well as the offer to make their interviewing instruments available to interested parties.
Assessment: The authors offer an accessible and useful book. Clinicians at the beginning of their practice will find this a helpful guide in assisting clients in processing traumatic histories. Clinicians with more experience may benefit from the numerous suggestions and reminders from the authors about various aspects of working with such traumatized individuals. The book is well written, easy to read, and largely free of confusing terminology.

Doody's Review Service

"Through its emphasis on survivors' strengths and resilience overthe life course, this book brings a new focus to the study of childsexual abuse. Therapists, researchers, and survivors will gain animportant understanding of resiliency in the context of family,community, and women's lives. The authors give voice to women whohave overcome the trauma of abuse." —Linda M. Williams, directorof research, the Stone Center, Wellesley College

"This important book breaks new ground. . . . For any readerwishing to be inspired by stories of the human spirit's triumphover adversity." —Daniel Brown, Harvard Medical School, SimmonsSchool of Social Work

"The women's voices of With the Phoenix Rising bring to life thespirit and hope every survivor can discover. This wonderful bookhas something to offer new clinicians as well as seasoned traumaprofessionals." —Linda T. Sanford, author of Strong at the BrokenPlaces

"Full of practical wisdom and perspective for trauma cliniciansworking with all trauma survivor groups. Survivors will find theirstrengths and dignity cherished without the slightestaid-and-comfort given to perpetrators and their apologists. Withthe Phoenix Rising palpably enlarges what we know about how atrauma survivor can construct a good human life." —Jonathan Shay,staff psychiatrist, Department of Veteran Affairs; author ofAchilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character

From the Publisher

3 Stars from Doody

This book offers an in-depth look at ten survivors of sexual and other abuse, and tries to pinpoint the characteristics that enabled the women to survive and even thrive. It is organized into four parts, each containing several chapters. The authors wanted examine resiliency in survivors of traumatic abuse in hopes of finding common characteristics or coping tools that can be taught to other survivors of such abuse. Clearly any methods or techniques that can be implemented to help abuse and trauma victims overcome their histories would be widely welcomed. While no panacea was found, the authors determined that these women had some characteristics and strengths in common which may act as indicators of resiliency in other survivors. This book is intended for a professional audience. It may be of particular interest to therapists who focus on trauma survivors or women's issues. The authors have many years of experience and write convincingly on their topic. The authors begin by offering their own understanding of resiliency. They then proceed to reveal the life stories of the ten women. In Part I each of the women involved in the study is described and the authors related how they were recruited to participate in the study. Some demographic information is provided, each woman's story of abuse is told. In Part II the discussion centers on how these women were able to use things such as school and work as safe havens. The authors also indicate that each of the women had been able to develop some kind of positive, appropriate relationship either currently or in the past that was instrumental in helping the them see their own strengths and learn to manage relationships. Some ofthe women were helped by relationships with children, others by relationships with close friends, and still others by relationships with spouses or domestic partners. The authors recognize the importance of a special pet or doll to some of their subjects as well. In Part III the authors describe the ways in which they believe the ten women developed resiliency, as well as how resiliency might be encouraged in clients. This part of the discussion includes such topics as the role of therapy and the importance of caring for oneself. Part IV is composed of just one chapter in which the authors revisit the women several years after the initial interviews. The text is peppered throughout with suggestions for applying the information presented in the clinical setting. The authors have thoroughly researched their topic, as indicated by the lengthy list of references. Another useful item is the detailed description of their methodology at the end of the book, as well as the offer to make their interviewing instruments available to interested parties. The authors offer an accessible and useful book. Clinicians at the beginning of their practice will find this a helpful guide in assisting clients in processing traumatic histories. Clinicians with more experience may benefit from the numerous suggestions and reminders from the authors about various aspects of working with such traumatized individuals. The book is well written, easy to read, and largely free of confusing terminology.

Cindy L. Gilbert

Looks beyond the pathology that dominates literature on the subject of trauma, and tells the stories of 10 women who have successfully integrated the experience of traumatic childhood sexual abuse into their lives. Their lessons provide hope for fellow survivors and give clinicians insight they need to help encourage resiliency in abuse survivors. Grossman is a professor of psychology at Boston University. Three co-authors all studied under her at Boston University's doctoral program in clinical psychology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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