Helpful Links
  • Chicago Children's Advocacy Center Center dedicated to helping child victims in the Chicago area.
  • darkness 2 light Great informative site that contains information about what child sexual abuse is and how to prevent it and how to cope with it.
  • Male Survivors of Childhood Sex Abuse
  • Survivors's Healing Home Page
  • Parents of Survivors Home Page: has a good list addressing family and friends of survivors to describe the hell that we go through.
  • RAINN: non-profit organization dedicating to providing help for victims of sexual abuse or assault.
  • SIDRAN Institute specializes in traumatic stress education and advocacy. Also has a great selection of books.

    Excellent books on childhood incest and sexual abuse

    Many adults who were abused as children experience post-traumatic stress disorder. Children and adults surviving traumatic events very frequently will have persistence of the acute post-traumatic stress response beyond six months. When this occurs, the child or adult is then considered to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a diagnostic label which has been traditionally associated with combat veterans. More recently however, it has been very well described in children who have been survivors of physical abuse, sexual abuse, exposure to community or domestic violence and other children exposed to any variety of traumatic event. The three major clusters of symptoms as described above are observed in a variety of forms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

    There are some new books that are coming out now dealing with abuse in this light.
    Secret Survivors: Uncovering Incest and its Aftereffects in Women, E. Sue Blume, ISBN 0-345-36979-3, 1990, $6.99 paperback. Excellent resource that has a good overview of the symptoms resulting from childhood sexual abuse. Good resource section and section reviewing treatment and healing alternatives.

    Therapy for Adults Molested as Children: Beyond Survival, John Briere, ISBN 0-8261-5641-X, 1996.This book discusses the aftereffects of molestation in adult survivors. It describes disorders such as dissociative disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. While informative, this book is more clinical than most of the others listed and could be used by both therapists and survivors.

    Back from the Brink: A Family Guide to Overcoming Traumatic Stress, Don R. Catherall, ISBN 0-553-08977-3, 1992, $22.00 hardcover.This book describes the effects of posttraumatic stress in general, but it applicable and helpful for a incest survivor, whether male or female. The book also describes recovery and healing guidance. Good for survivors and partners.

    The Courage to Heal, Ellen Bass and Laura Davis, ISBN 0-06-096931-8, 1992, $20.00 paperback.This book is a large resource of information about abuse, survival, recovery and also has stories from survivors. The resource guide contains numerous reviews of books, organizations, and programs for both female and male survivors. This book starts from the acknowledgement and recognition of the abuse from the survivor's point of view as well as healing strategies for both survivors and partners. A terrific resource.

    Allies in Healing, Laura Davis, ISBN 0-06-096883-4, 1991, $15.00 paperback. This book is great for partners as well as survivors. It helps partners understand how child sexual abuse insiduously effects not just the survivor, but her partner as well and how it can and does strain relationships. It also presents coping strategies for both partners. Very good book for anyone who needs support.

    Rape, Incest, and Child Sexual Abuse, Pat Gilmartin, ISBN 0-8153-1326-8, 1994.This book updates the abuse literature and how child abuse and rape are defined and understood. It also discusses the aftereffects of such abuse. Gilmartin takes a sociological and scholarly approach in the discussions and includes overviews and statistics that are alarming and important. Such societal views that are discussed include:

    Although we have "known" about the sexual victimization of children for a very long time, we have been quite unwilling individually and collectively to admit that these problems exist and that they have reached epidemic proportions

    The Sexual Healing Journey, Wendy Maltz, ISBN 0-06-016661-4, 1991, $13.00 paperback. Well-written book that helps survivors to achieve safe and loving relationships.

    Incest and Sexuality: A Guide to Understanding and Healing, Wendy Maltz, ISBN 0-669-14085-6, 1987, $13.99 paperback. Well-written work that addresses incest and how it affects sexuality, relationships, families, how survivors cope during and after the attacks, how survivors can help themselves. Great section for partners of survivors as well. Both Maltz books are excellent.

    [Top of Page][Back to Sites page]