Surviving sexual violence : a guide to recovery and empowerment /

At the same time that it disrupts lives, sexual violence can also offer options for survival and growth. That is the overall message Bryant-Davis (psychology, Pepperdine Univ.) delivers in this edited volume, which focuses mostly on adult women. Part 1 describes sexual violence across the life span and settings (e.g., harassment, trafficking, relationships--sexual assault in the military is considered) and the plethora of physical, psychological, and spiritual outcomes resulting from that violence. Part 2 emphasizes culturally sensitive counseling to empower survivors and aid recovery--for example, psychotherapy, eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing, family therapy, feminist counseling, mind-body practices (which are particularly helpful for women), journaling, and social support in general. Vignettes illuminate pathways to healing and coping skills, self-defense training, spirituality, and group and individual therapy. Psychoeducation involves dispelling myths and providing education about sexual assault. Prevention is barely mentioned, and screening, suicide, and play therapy are overlooked. This book is useful for survivors, significant others, and counselors seeking a broad array of positive and supportive interventions. Resources and suggested activities are helpful. Summing Up: Recommended. Researchers, professionals, and general readers. S. M. Valente University of California, Los Angeles

In this comprehensive anthology on coping with sexual violence, psychology professor and trauma expert Bryant-Davis (Thriving in the Wake of Trauma) has included essays covering childhood sexual abuse, human trafficking, the value of self-defense training, and the reintegration of faith as a method of healing from trauma, among other subjects. The result reads like a social work textbook (which it probably will become), but one that is free of academic jargon, and accessible to laypeople. Sexual abuse survivors, as well as their friends and family, will find suggestions for recovery strategies and supporting research, though the book's overall tone may make it a challenging read. If readers are looking for more direct support for recovering from sexual abuse, they will likely benefit more from a title written for the general public since this may be better suited to clinicians. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.