Treating The Adult Survivor Of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Psychoanalytic Perspective

by Jody Messler Davies, Mary Gail Frawley

Entering the tumultuous, dissociated world of the adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse presents an intimidating challenge for clinicians. But as the authors of this innovative book argue, therapists must be willing and able to work within the powerful and rapidly shifting relational paradigms of transference and countertransference commonly found in treatment of these patients. Such dual roles enacted in treatment include the unseeing, uninvolved parent and the unseen, neglected child; the sadistic abuser and the helpless, enraged victim; the idealized rescuer and the entitled child; and the seducer and the seduced.This is the first model for treatment of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse that takes advantage of a relational approach and that integrates psychoanalytic thinking with the latest findings from the literature on psychological trauma and sexual abuse. Diverging from a more classical perspective, the authors view dissociation as the means by which a person adapts to and expresses traumatogenic material and by which such patients defend against traumatic memories, affects, and fantasy elaborations emerging into consciousness. The authors also detail how dissociation helps organize the patient's personality and presentation of self.Richly illustrated case examples bring to life the authors' treatment model and show how clinicians can work through the relational paradigms between patient and therapist and, ultimately, reach the core of the patient's deeply buried experiences of self and other.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Psychoanalysis, Education, Mental Health

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 20, 1994

Reviews

[Ian Divertie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was an excellent book. I have read extensively about the issues of childhood abuse over the years, being a survivor of physical abuse myself. Also having been diagnosed with PTSD I found much of this, although its not my specific issue, applicable to myself. Trauma seems to effect the survivor much the same regardless of the cause. I often try to assist my fellow survivors if I can and read this book because someone I know had this happen to them. Unfortunately, I have combined this book with another, "Girls In Justice" because the two issues overlap. With the denial of the extent of these problems in our society many victims of child abuse if removed from their families of origin end up at the age of 10, 11, or 12 in juvenile detention facilities awaiting foster care placements. Essentially placing the victims in prison without therapeutic support. The disappearance of public orphanages means that many victims end up in "prison" for months or even as much as a year and of course foster placements are far from perfect. Our society's denial of abuse and mental health issues is a disgrace. I wonder when we will face up to it? The outcomes of this situation are predictable and trying to repair the damage later in life when the victim has lost all trust in authority or any societal system is not hopeless but it takes the patience of a saint and loads of empathy that maybe only a fellow sufferer can provide. When will we face up to this and take real action? Denial will only make it worse. Re-traumatizing the victims is not the answer. The extent of the psychological problems as the book shows makes clear that only the most empathetic, loving approach is going to work, yet we are currently doing the exact opposite.

[Geoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so it's not a book for everyone. But it's what I'm reading and it is a great volume. Anyone, like me, who treats a lot of folks with this particular tragedy in their lives should own a copy.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute beast of a book - incredibly thorough, to the extent that I feel I need to re-read it even though I have just spent months reading it. A remarkable achievement and a very precious resource for the work I do with this client group.

[Ioana Plopeanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minunată! Este o carte greu de citit, dar fascinantă și tristă deopotrivă. Explicații foarte bine dezvoltate cu studii de caz dintre cele mai elaborate. Este o carte de citit și de avut în biblioteca din cabinet. Recomand!

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read on this topic. Hands down.