Rating: 
Summary: Valuable Book
Review: I can not for the life of me understand why reviews or how reviewers can put this book down. It is an excellent source at helping to heal the wounds of past child/sexual abuse. One of the best books I have read on the subject and one of the reasons that I am moving from the lable Victim to Survivor. I say the authors did a fantastic job on this book. I also want to recommend NIGHTMARES ECHO by Katlyn Stewart and BEAUTY FOR ASHES by Joyce Meyer....I am extrememly impressed with these authors. They have helped me to heal...for that I am grateful.
Rating: 
Summary: How to destroy innocent lives
Review: Even though juries have awarded damages in the millions of dollara against alleged therapists who manipulated gullible patients into fantasizing that they were sexually abused as children, believing that the fantasies were recovered memories, and accusing innocent caregivers of unspeakable atrocities, this book maintains that such false memories are "recovered memories" of events that in fact never happened. There is no such thing as repressed memory. There is no such thing as recovered memory. This book is dangerous disinformation.
Rating:
Summary: Caution...
Review: ...To quote: "The Courage to Heal is grounded in total ignorance of research findings about the functioning of human memory. That should be no surprise. Its authors by their own admission have no training, education, or license to diagnose or treat mental illnesses. But as the old saying goes, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread," and the authors of The Courage to Heal confidently promote their book as a tool for recovering from repressed memories of abuse that must have occurred--even if there is no evidence and a woman has no recollection of ever being abused. Would you allow an amateur with no medical training to operate on your heart? Of course not! Why, then, would any sensible person allow two amateurs to operate on her mind? The dangers are just as great. If you don't think so, read the retractor stories on this site." It continues: "The results of this total disregard for scientific research, medical ethics, and human and constitutional rights have been predictable and catastrophic. The Courage to Heal has become the 'Bible' of the memory recovery movement. Selling hundreds of thousands of copies, it has filled every reader's mind with claims that are false or misleading and a misplaced confidence in theories for which there is no evidence and methods which have never been tested for safety or effectiveness. It has poisoned therapists' offices across the country and more than any other book helped trigger the tidal wave of false accusations of repressed memories of abuse that swept the United States in the 80s and 90s. Retractors--people who came to believe in recovered memories of abuse and later realized their mistake--overwhelmingly report that this book played a key role in the development of their false memories. (Read the retractor quotes in this section of the site.) The Courage to Heal has been implicated in over half the cases of False Memory Syndrome reported to the False Memory Syndrome Foundation in Philadelphia. Without doubt, The Courage to Heal may have been genuinely helpful to some actual victims of abuse--those who always remembered their abuse and who did not develop false memories after reading it. In the same way, Thalidomide was genuinely helpful to some pregnant women for treating nausea--those whose babies were not deformed by its side effects. Memory recovery therapy as promoted by The Courage to Heal is the Thalidomide of the mental health industry. Even though Thalidomide can relieve nausea during pregnancy, its use is banned today because the harmful side effects are unacceptable, and the first rule of healing is "first, do no harm." In the same way, the use of so-called memory recovery therapy should be banned because its harmful side effects are unacceptable."
Rating:
Summary: Book review
Review: I have been a victim of childhood sexual abuse. I have been in therapy and have read a few books. This book is not about healing. If you are looking for peace, to forgive your abuser and get your self-esteem and your power back, this book is not for you.
I don't know how many times I read the word "[...]" in this book, but once was too much. In my opinion, this book is filth...
Rating:
Summary: Idiodic, Amateur Drivel That Destroys Lives
Review: This book has been totally discredited by psychiatrists. That it's even allowed on bookshelves is a testament ONLY to our freedom of the press. It is written by amateurs with no qualifications whatsoever, other than their creative writing ability.
This book has done permanent harm to patients, families and even psychiatric practices. In a hundred years from now, this book will be included with the genre of books that inspired the Salem Witch Hunts. A false accusation is all that is needed to destroy a life.
I have read this book and implore anyone seeking help, to please get help from a LICENSED psychiatrist with no hidden agenda. This book would be the most expensive $16 you would EVER spend.
Rating:
Summary: Please Don't Buy this Book
Review: This book has harmed so many people. I would ask people to boycott it. It was written by two people with no qualifications whatsoever. They are not doctors. They are not psychologists. They are not psychiatrists. One was a creative writing teacher and the other was her student. This book has encouraged the belief that flashbacks of alleged abuse "recovered" later in life in therapy or while under altered states of consciousness(which are often false memories) are as legitimate as actual abuse always recalled. So many familes have been destroyed by false accusations. I have read this book and I believe it definitely has done more harm than good. Please avoid it at all costs.
Rating:
Summary: Agree with Reviewer-3 books that changed my life
Review: I have read Courage To Heal, The Courage To Heal Workbook (Laura Davis)and Nightmares Echo (Katlyn Stewart). I can tell you that because of these books I am now on the path to healing. I understand so much as to why I have done some of the things I did in my past. I learned I am not alone in the feelings I had. I thank the authors of these books that have made it possible to heal.
Rating:
Summary: Two books That Changed My Life
Review: I am a past childhood sexual abuse victim and thanks to two books, The Courage To heal and Nightmares Echo I finally believe that I will become a survivor. I recommend both books highly. To change the way you percieve things, the way you deal with things and the way you see yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Courage to Heal
Review: This is a good resource, full of personal stories as well as clinical advice. I was very moved by the struggles of other people with backgrounds similar to mine who HAVE moved past this--at least enough to enjoy their lives. As a survivor, sometimes we wonder.... is it possible to EVER move past what has happened to us? I don't know. Some days I think maybe we don't ever get past anything, but we find a way to live with it. This is definitely worth a read.
Rating:
Summary: The best first step to healing
Review: This book was recommended to me by my therapist. I had reached a point in life in that I could no longer keep the dark secret inside me. My therapist was great, but didnt' specialize in this area. So I delved right into the book. It emphasizes repeatedly that you need to do the writing exercises in order to get the full effect. This is true. When I first purchased the book I had read reviews putting down the authors for not being certified enough to write the book. I had some doubts, but let me tell you, it was the best thing I ever did for myself. All the feelings I had could finally start to come out. All the actions I had taken in life finally started to make sense. For the first time I realized I wasn't alone in my feelings. The book gives you a sense of belonging. It helps you realize you are not alone in your healing. It also gently guides you through the process, and allows you to go at your own pace. Make sure you set aside time for each writing exercise. I know women who have read the book and didn't get much out of it until they did go through and do the writing. Also, I highly recommend anyone wishing to continue the process to seek out a local AMAC (Adults Molested As Children) group. This part of the healing cannot come from a text book. There is nothing like the understanding and acceptance you can find in a group of women that have experienced similar situations and wound up with the same life-long emotional damage. This book is a must have for anyone ready to heal from sexual abuse.
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