Wounded Heart: A Companion Workbook for Personal or Group Use

Rating:
Summary: In agreement with Reviewer
Review: This book is a very solid, look at the life of the abused.A must read. I also read Nightmares Echo along with this book and the two books opened my eyes as well. If you can buy both books...not because you yourself may have been abused, but hopefully, because you haven't and need to know what the child/teen/adult goes through that has

Rating:
Summary: What a blessing, what a help in healing
Review: And all this time I'd thought that I was "big" enough to rise above the abuse. I became a better person, a better Christian, all under the same umbrella of sexual abuse. His insightful words touched places in my soul that I didn't even know existed. The so-called strengh I'd felt all these years was defense, a mask, to protect what had been damaged so long ago. I'd never been to counseling, but for my children's sake, I began to see a Christian therapist who recommended this book. If you've ever been sexually abused, no matter how insignificant you may think the contact was, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It has literally changed my life. The book, and it's wise words have helped me understand my thought processes, my defense mechanisms, and why I feel so torn and broken inside. This is the first thing that has brought light and clarity into a terrible and wicked past that has wounded me deeply. Most importantly, it shows that even things that I thought I was doing for the right reasons ("because I'm being a good Christian") are sometimes done with wrong motivation (though I didn't know better at the time). I literally thank God for Mr. Allender's book, and recommend it without reservation to victims of sexual abuse and those who love them.

Rating:
Summary: very solid
Review: Dan Allender approaches the subject of sexual abuse and trauma with great care and tenderness but also with strength and focus. We survivors often question, either directly or indirectly, "Where was God when all of this was happening to me?" Dr. Allender seeks to bring us back into the healing presence of our creator and loving father. Allender shows us that God is big enough to handle our pain and anger and that if we can surrender to His healing touch (which can sometimes be painful), we can be free. This is a brilliant tool for use both by survivors and therapists! I can't find enough words to express my appreciation to him for writing it.

Rating:
Summary: The most helpful book I've read on the subject
Review: Finding Christian material on sexual abuse is rare, and to find GOOD Christain material on sexual abuse is even more rare. This book is a gem. I've read many books as a sexual abuse survivor but none of them gave the the feeling of love and acceptance by God that this one did. God loves us even if we've been 'damaged' and I truly felt that after reading this book. It also helped me to share with my husband what was going on with me and some suggestions to help him understand. I felt like I was truly understood, that this person really knew what I'd been going through and helped me to see that God is a God of love, comfort, and healing. I have bought this book for some people that I knew who have been abused and they all say the same thing. It is truly a God-send.

Rating:
Summary: Superb Title
Review: For the title alone, I would read this book since it recognizes that anything that happens to a person, or any experience, affects the heart and soul as well as the attitude and perspective, all of which are required to be reconciled in order to trust another, and to entrust oneself to another. Few recognize the extent to which the heart is so wholly involved in anyone's personal experience. Truly, each person can be thought to have a "purple heart" that thrives from passion, and/or resists pain. This should be on the cardiac book of the year list for an award given the nature of anxiety, its causes, and the probability of physical and emotional disturbances that result from not recognizing the degree to which the heart is involved in healthy living, a design worthy of the soul's honor and need for self help. Because all abuse is, and can be, sexual abuse, or more specifically, human abuse, the book is pertinent to everyone, to heal or to help.

Rating:
Summary: True help for the sexual abuse survivor
Review: I am a Christian pastoral counselor and have used both the workbook and book with a number of sexual abuse survivors both male and female.It is an excellent resource for those who want to move out of the "victim" mode. Dan Allender provides the tools to help individuals to live independently of the suffering of past.What makes this material unique is that it can also be used with males. Previously, there has been real lack of usable material for them. But this is no longer the case.The books can be used in both a group setting as well as with individuals, as I have done.Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing, Heavily Condemnatory Book
Review: I do NOT recommend this book. The assertion, repeated again and again, that we cannot trust our memories, that repression is a choice, that survivors sin in their response to sexual abuse...I find these abhorrent. Allender speaks of repentance and the choices survivors make. He even asserts that most survivors remember everything that happened, but then goes on to invalidate memory. Too bad I can't get my money back. To call this book a help to survivors I believe is fraudulent. The secular "Courage to Heal" book and workbook are infinitely better.

Rating:
Summary: Godly, sound advice
Review: I must admit I was surprised when I read this book as I had already read 11 other books written on this subject matter. I didn't think I would get anything "new" out of this book but I was blown away by the revelations I received while reading it! I suddenly realized this book described exactly how I was feeling and the conflicts that were raging within my soul about what had happened to me as a child. Excellent book, I would recommend it for child abuse victim's no matter how many years have gone by. It explained things in such a way that I finally knew why I acted and responded to people in the ways that I do today, 36 years after my abuse occurred. I hid behind a self preservation mask because the truth of what happened to me when I was a child (now many years ago)was always carried around with me like unwelcome garbage. That memory "garbage" should have been thrown out for the garbage pickup years ago but I had kept it hidden inside me, concealed from everyone else's view. However, of course these hidden memories still smelled to high heavens hidden inside my soul behind a public mask that really only was fooling myself and no one else after all. Although my family and friends had no idea what the deep problem was in my life, I am positive they all still could tell that I was hiding something too painful to share from them behind my "mask"!

Rating:
Summary: Be Ready for Miracles
Review: I read The Wounded Heart and its workbook six years ago before I ever became a Christian, never imagining the impact these books would have on my life. Now I conduct Wounded Heart Workbook studies at my church. Dr. Allender understands and is sensitive to the dilemas and pain victims face in adult-hood and offers a sensible real-life approach to healing. While the self discovery always involves pain and grieving, the issues are handled with love and fresh creativity. Each time I go through a study, I uncover deeper levels of understanding my past and greater hope to face the future whole and intact. I've also developed friendships and trust with other victims that I will treasure for all time. We are finding that spouses are now reading the book and joining our studies also, sparking renewed tenderness and communication in stressed marriages. Now I am free to laugh harder, love deeper, and care more. Thank you Dr. Allender!

Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: I was looking for a book to help a friend and found this one. I feel Dr. Allendar is a very gifted author but am not sure his book is for everyone.
My friend is young and does not believe in God and that to me is sad. I feel this book would not be one he would even attempt to read to help him, even though the absents of a faith in the truth is part of his problem.
I also feel this was difficult to understand when it is read by a someone not into the workings of God and has not achieved a graduated level of education.
This book does cover a difficult subject that is abundant in our society and not openly talked about. I found it to be helpful in description of the individual type of personalities and will make all attempts to share it with my friend.