Child abuse Books

Book SynopsisNow revised and expanded with 50% new content reflecting important clinical refinements, this manual presents a widely used evidence-based therapy approach for adult survivors of chronic trauma. Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR) Narrative Therapy helps clients to build crucial social and emotional resources for living in the present and to break the hold of traumatic memories. Highly clinician friendly, the book provides everything needed to implement STAIR--including 68 reproducible handouts and session plans--and explains the approach's theoretical and empirical bases. The large-size format facilitates photocopying; purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials. First edition title: Treating Survivors of Childhood Abuse: Psychotherapy for the Interrupted Life. New to This Edition *Reorganized, simplified sessions make implementation easier. *Additional session on eTrade Review"The second edition of this amazing resource builds on and expands the first edition. It conveys a deep understanding of survivors of abuse and presents a treatment model that flexibly addresses their varied needs. The book contains practical discussion and application and includes a wealth of handouts. STAIR Narrative Therapy fulfills the criteria for an evidence-based treatment, as it is built on theory, research findings, clinical observation, and client preferences. STAIR is a fitting acronym--the book presents a set of skills in a developmental and progressive sequence, one step at a time."--Christine A. Courtois, PhD, ABPP, private practice (retired), Washington, DC; consultant and trainer, trauma psychology and treatment “For therapists who want a clear, structured way to help trauma clients increase their coping skills and revise the narrative of their traumatic experiences, this book is a gem. The session outlines and client exercises are systematic and amazingly thorough. I particularly appreciate the book's respectful stance toward the client, the down-to-earth focus on emotion, and the accessible way topics such as complex trauma are laid out. This second edition is a great contribution to the literature. It will be particularly helpful to mental health professionals who are beginning the journey into treating the chaos of trauma with their clients."--Susan M. Johnson, EdD, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology, University of Ottawa, Canada; Distinguished Research Professor, Marital and Family Therapy Program, Alliant International University, San Diego “Cloitre and colleagues have done a fabulous job updating and expanding their book on STAIR Narrative Therapy for childhood abuse and chronic interpersonal trauma. STAIR is now strongly supported by the authors' own research, as well as being grounded in the broader trauma research literature. The book offers a carefully delineated description of this brief yet comprehensive treatment. The step-by-step explanations and numerous downloadable handouts make this book an excellent learning tool for beginning therapists--it also has plenty to offer seasoned therapists. Highly recommended."--Catherine C. Classen, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco "The authors' theoretical and clinical model of early trauma and adversity leading to an interrupted life is a very helpful perspective to understand this important clinical group. This book provides a detailed treatment manual on how to conduct STAIR Narrative Therapy. Therapists will hugely benefit from the many case examples, handouts, and step-by-step instructions. A new chapter in the second edition describes adaptations of STAIR for specific populations and settings, showing that the authors constantly work on refining and developing their evidence-based approach."--Thomas Ehring, PhD, Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Germany "This second edition leaves no stone unturned. It is an invaluable resource for both experienced clinicians and the next generation of therapists, who will gain a precise and systematic method for helping their clients with childhood trauma. This book uncovers the troubling complexities of trauma while presenting a promising path forward through STAIR Narrative Therapy."--David M. Greenberg, PhD, Zuckerman Postdoctoral Scholar, Bar-Ilan University, Israel; Visiting Researcher, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom-Wonderfully written, with quotes to reflect upon for each chapter, the book provides handouts, case scenarios, and explanations and summaries for the goals and skills developed per chapter section. It is a practice guide for anyone working with any type and any level of survivorship from trauma….This book meets the need of any audience who wants to be an agent of change in thought, word, and action for those who have somehow survived the very worst that life experiences could offer….Materials and descriptions provide step-by-step directives to reduce the potential for child trauma creating maladaptive adults with repetitive trauma-driven behaviors. Don't miss the chapters on resource loss, changing relationship patterns, and the resource of hope. The entire book is of benefit, but these chapters are amazing and substantive.--Doody's Review Service, 8/24/2020ƒƒThe book presents a solid theoretical foundation on which the authors have built a detailed plan of action to guide the therapist and, perhaps just as important, inform the client....The treatment sequence itself is brilliantly conceived. (on the first edition)--PsycCRITIQUES, 4/11/2007ƒƒThis is a wonderful book….Though trauma work is difficult, this book provides a coherent rationale and treatment program. (on the first edition)--Doody's Electronic Review, 9/15/2006Table of ContentsI. Theoretical Frameworks 1. A Resource Loss Model 2. Attachment: When Protector and Perpetrator Are One 3. Development in the Context of Deprivation II. Foundations of Treatment 4. Treatment Rationale 5. Building Emotional and Social Resources: Overview of STAIR 6. Working with Traumatic Memories: Overview of Narrative Therapy 7. Extending the Narrative: Transforming Shame and Loss 8. Guidelines for Implementing Treatment 9. Assessment of Client and Match for Treatment III. STAIR Narrative Therapy, Session by Session - Module I. Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR): Building Resources 10. Session 1. The Resource of Hope: Introducing the Client to Treatment 11. Session 2. The Resource of Feeling: Emotional Awareness 12. Session 3. Emotion Regulation: Focus on the Body 13. Session 4. Emotion Regulation: Focus on Thoughts and Behavior 14. Session 5. Emotionally Engaged Living: Distress Tolerance 15. Session 6. The Resource of Connection: Understanding Relationship Patterns 16. Session 7. Changing Relationship Patterns: Focus on Assertiveness 17. Session 8. Changing Relationship Patterns: Managing Power 18. Session 9. Changing Relationship Patterns: Increasing Closeness 19. Session 10. Self-Compassion and Summary of Skills Training - Module II. Narrative Therapy: Facing the Past and Imagining the Future 20. Moving from Skills Training to Narrative Therapy: How Do You Know Your Client Is Ready? 21. Session 11. Introduction to Narrative Therapy 22. Session 12. Narrative of First Memory 23. Sessions 13–17. Narratives of Fear 24. Sessions 13–17. Narratives of Shame 25. Sessions 13–17. Narratives of Loss 26. Session 18. The Final Session 27. New Developments for STAIR Narrative Therapy References Index

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Book SynopsisEamon Dolan has worked as an editor at HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Penguin Press. He is currently Vice President & Executive Editor at Simon & Schuster. He's also a professional photographer whose work has been shown at the International Center of Photography and elsewhere. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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Book SynopsisThe No. 1 Sunday Times Bestseller.At just eight years old, Jodie is violent, aggressive and extremely challenging. Five carers in four months have been unable to cope, but there is one last hope: Cathy GlassAs Jodie begins to trust Cathy and make progress, shocking details about her past come to light. No one had noticed the glaring signs of abuse by those who were supposed to love her most.One of Cathy's earliest and bestselling memoirs, Damaged is a heartbreaking story that proves just how valuable foster carers are for society's most vulnerable children.*Damaged was originally published in 2007*Trade Review'Cannot fail to move those who read it.' Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.' The Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’ The Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.' OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’ First Magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’ Star Magazine

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times top ten bestseller...'Nobody knew what was going on behind those doors. We were human toys. Just a piece of meat for someone to play with.'Barbara O'Hare was just 12 when she was admitted to the psychiatric hospital, Aston Hall, in 1971. From a troubled home, she'd hoped she would find sanctuary there. But within hours, Barbara was tied down, drugged with sodium amytal - a truth-telling drug - and then abused by its head physician, Dr Kenneth Milner.The terrifying drug experimentation and relentless abuse that lasted throughout her stay damaged her for life. But somehow, Barbara clung on to her inner strength and eventually found herself leading a campaign to demand answers for potentially hundreds of victims.A shocking account of how vulnerable children were preyed upon by the doctor entrusted with their care, and why it must never happen again.

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Book SynopsisWhat could cause a mother to believe that giving away her newborn baby is her only option? Cathy Glass is about to find out. From author of Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller Damaged comes a harrowing and moving memoir about tiny Harrison, left in Cathy's care, and the potentially fatal family secret of his beginnings.When Cathy is first asked to foster one-day old Harrison her only concern is if she will remember how to look after a baby. But upon collecting Harrison from the hospital, Cathy realises she has more to worry than she thought when she discovers that his background is shrouded in secrecy.She isn't told why Harrison is in foster care and his social worker says only a few are aware of his very existence, and if his whereabouts became known his life, and that of his parents, could be in danger. Cathy tries to put her worries aside as she looks after Harrison, a beautiful baby, who is alert and engaging. Cathy and her children quickly bond with Harrison although they know that, inevitably, he will eventually be adopted.But when a woman Cathy doesn't know starts appearing in the street outside her house acting suspiciously, Cathy fears for her own family's safety and demands some answers from Harrison's social worker. The social worker tells Cathy a little but what she says is very disturbing . How is this woman connected to Harrison and can she answer the questions that will affect Harrison's whole life?

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Book SynopsisBased on a true story, The Forgotten Child is a heart-breaking memoir of an abandoned newborn baby left to die, his tempestuous upbringing, and how he came through the other side.It's a freezing winter's night in 1954. A baby boy, a few hours old, is left by his mother, wrapped in nothing but two sheets of newspaper and hidden amongst the undergrowth by a canal bank. An hour later, a late-shift postman is walking wearily home when he hears a faint cry. He finds the newspaper parcel and discovers the newborn, white-cold and whimpering, inside.After being rushed to hospital and against all odds, the baby survives. He's baptised by the hospital chaplain as Richard.Everything feels as though it's looking up; Richard is put into local authority care and regains his health. However, after nearly five blissful years in a rural care home filled with loving friends, it soon unfolds that his turbulent start in life is only the beginningBased on a devastating true story, this inspirational memoirTrade Review‘An incredible story of survival.’ The Sun

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Book SynopsisYou're not going home. You're not going anywhere. You're mine now.Growing up in a deeply troubled family, 15-year-old Anna felt lost and alone in the world. So when a friendly taxi driver befriended her, Anna welcomed the attention, and agreed to go home with him to meet his family. She wouldn't escape for over a decade. Held captive by a sadistic paedophile, Anna was subjected to despicable levels of sexual abuse and torture. The unrelenting violence and degradation resulted in numerous miscarriages, and the birth of four babies... each one stolen away from Anna at birth.Her salvation arrived thirteen years too late, but despite her shattered mind and body, Anna finally managed to flee. This is her harrowing, yet uplifting, true story of survival.

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Book SynopsisIn her new book, Cathy Glass, the no.1 bestselling author of Damaged, tells the story of the Alice, a young and vulnerable girl who is desperate to return home to her mother.Alice, aged four, is snatched by her mother the day she is due to arrive at Cathy''s house. Drug-dependent and mentally ill, but desperate to keep hold of her daughter, Alice''s mother snatches her from her parents'' house and disappears.Cathy spends three anxious days worrying about her whereabouts before Alice is found safe, but traumatised. Alice is like a little doll, so young and vulnerable, and she immediately finds her place in the heart of Cathy''s family. She talks openly about her mummy, who she dearly loves, and how happy she was living with her maternal grandparents before she was put into care. Alice has clearly been very well looked after and Cathy can''t understand why she couldn''t stay with her grandparents.It emerges that Alice''s grandparents are considered too old (they are in their early sixtieTrade ReviewReviews for ‘Damaged’: 'Cannot fail to move those who read it.' Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.' The Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’ The Sun 'A true tale of hope.' OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that’ First Magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’ Star Magazine

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Book SynopsisThrough an intensive clinical study of 40 incest victims and numerous interviews with professionals in mental health, child protection, and law enforcement, Herman develops a composite picture of the incestuous family. In a new afterword, she offers an overview of knowledge that has developed about sexual abuse since this book was first published.Trade ReviewThere is much to commend in the book. It is gracefully written and reviews a wide literature ranging from the scientific to the pornographic and from fairy tales to the Bible...The author presents practical and helpful suggestions on how best to approach a family facing the problem of incest, the methods of strengthening the mother's position and improving the mother-daughter relationship, necessary steps to protect the victim from further physical and psychological harm, and ways of prosecuting or treating the father. There is also useful advice on psychotherapy of grownup incest victims and a discussion of the countertransference feelings in male and female therapists that are most likely to interfere with treatment or to make it detrimental. -- Vera Frances, M.S. * Family Process *A timely book of striking humanistic political and theoretical significance...I also find Herman's book an eloquent expression of feminist concerns about the oppression and sexual exploitation of woman at her most vulnerable stage of development. It is indeed Herman's trenchant feminist analysis that makes this book not just another research report, but rather a profound critique of female socialization in this society...This book is written in a clear, scholarly, and highly readable style. Although the book's message is passionate, the author maintains a measure of objectivity. She avoids harangues or polemics and relies on facts and observations in organizing a convincing presentation. I found this to be an absorbing, thought-provoking book which deserves to attract a wide readership among mental health professionals and the lay public. -- Sophie Freud Loewenstein, Ph.D. * Review of Psychoanalytic Books *Father-Daughter Incest is an exciting addition to the growing literature of child sexual abuse. It offers the best hope to date of appealing to a broad range of clinical professionals who have not yet examined the current rediscovery of incest. The book is startling, sobering, challenging, and in many ways inspiring. Most important, it is compatible; it is considerate of the needs, fears, and vulnerabilities of readers across the entire spectrum, from those who have experienced incest to those who would deal with it professionally....[It] is a fascinating, profoundly moving clinical and cultural expedition into the heartland of incest. -- Roland C. Summit * Readings *The book is evenhanded, logical, well researched, and thoroughly gripping. It may have taken a while to get to, but it was truly hard to put down...Herman's thesis [is] that incest is the furthermost extension of male domination in a patriarchal society whose men do not share equally in child raising...The bulk of Dr. Herman's book, apart from her considerable historical analysis, is an anecdotal and statistical study of 40 incest victims and their families. She compares these families with 40 families in which the father had been merely seductive...In summary, this is an excellent book that weaves together theory with the very practical therapeutic guidelines. Most fascinating is the way Dr. Herman brings to life the family dynamics of an incestuous family. In the end, the family members take on a mythic quality, like characters in a Grimm's fairy tale. Father-Daughter Incest should be required reading for anyone treating a victim of incest. -- Judith Blitman, M.D. * American Journal of Psychiatry *Herman's work is valuable to everyone who has been the victim of such incest because it offers help; it is valuable to those whose families are shattered by its occurrence because it offers a means for reconciliation, and it is valuable to specialists who seek to assist their victim-clients. * Los Angeles Times *Herman's rethinking of incest is profoundly, passionately feminist...Her book, the result of years of psychiatric work with incest victims, is undeniably painful, but it is also full of hope. * Mother Jones *In a well-researched and readable book, Judith Herman--an American psychiatrist--presents a clear and compelling feminist analysis of father-daughter incest. -- Maryon Tysoe * New Society *Judith Lewis Herman's fine book is one of the most important contributions to psychiatric knowledge of the last decade...As an exemplary model of feminist scholarship, [it] is a rigorous sociopsychological reconceptualization of our clinical assumptions about incest...Herman offers a sophisticated, detailed, and clinically relevant discussion of treatment and issues for victims and their families...Father-Daughter Incest is an eloquent, illuminating, and empathic analysis of an extraordinarily complex and troubling phenomenon. It should be required reading for all mental health professionals and trainees. -- Elaine Carment, M.D. * Contemporary Psychiatry *This is an extremely readable survey of father-daughter incest today. The author describes the incestuous family from several points of view, including the dynamics typical of the incest family, and of the seductive father family; the traditional values of American society that promote the possibility of abusive family conduct; the political structure of our society that fails to assist the victim and favors the perpetrator; and the legal-enforcement-treatment system, which is too heavily funded or prepared to work with incest/seductive families...The comprehensiveness of the book, and the well thought out presentation, make this one of the most thorough pieces of literature on the subject...The subject matter, statistics and legal information is accurate and well presented for easy reference. This book should be mandatory reading for any professional or paraprofessional who works with women, children and families. -- Nora J. Baladerian, M.A. * Journal of Sex Education and Therapy *Table of ContentsPreface Author's Note, 2000: In Memory of Lisa Hirschman Introduction: Cinderella or Saint Dympna PART 1: The Incest Secret 1. A Common Occurrence 2. The Question of Harm 3. The Question of Blame 4. The Rule of the Father PART 2: Daughter's Lives 5. Incestuous Fathers and Their Families 6. The Daughter's Inheritance 7. Seductive Fathers and Their Families PART 3: Breaking Secrecy 8. The Crisis of Disclosure 9. Restoring Families 10. Criminal Justice 11. Remedies for Victims 12. Preventing Sexual Abuse Afterword, 2000: Understanding Incest Twenty Years Later Appendix: The Incest Statutes, by Leigh Beinen Notes Index

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Book SynopsisWhen Reece arrives at Cathy''s door aged 7 years old, he has already passed through the hands of four different carers in four weeks. As the details of his short life emerge, it becomes clear that to help him, Cathy will face her biggest challenge yet.The latest title from the author of Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller Damaged.Reece is the last of six siblings to be fostered. Having been in care for four months his aggressive and disruptive behaviour has seen him passed from carer to carer. Although only 7, he has been excluded from school, and bites people so often that his mother calls him ''Sharky''.Cathy wants to find the answers for Reece's distressing behaviour, but he has been sworn to secrecy by his mother, and will not tell them anything. As the social worker prepares for the final hearing, he finds five different files on Reece's family, and is incredulous that he had not been removed from them as a baby. When the darkest of family secrets is revealed to Cathy, ReecTrade ReviewREVIEWS FOR DAMAGED: 'Cannot fail to move those who read it.'Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.'Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.'OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’First magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’Star magazine

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Book SynopsisCathy Glass, international bestselling author, tells the shocking story of Zeena, a young Asian girl desperate to escape from her family.When 14 -year-old Zeena begs to be taken into care with a non-Asian family, she is clearly petrified. But of what?Placed in the home of experienced foster carer Cathy and her family, Zeena gradually settles into her new life, but misses her little brothers and sisters terribly. Prevented from having any contact with them by her family who insist she has brought shame and dishonour on the whole community, Zeena tries to see them at school. But when her father and uncle find out, they bundle her into a car and threaten to set fire to her if she makes anymore trouble. Zeena is too frightened to press charges against them despite being offered police protection in a safe house.Eventually, Cathy discovers the devastating truth from Zeena, and with devastation she believes there is little she can do to help her.Trade ReviewREVIEWS FOR DAMAGED: 'Cannot fail to move those who read it.'Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.'Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.'OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’First magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’Star magazine

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Book SynopsisThere was Megan Waterman, last seen leaving a hotel in Hauppauge, Long Island, just a month after Shannon’s disappearance in 2010, and Amber Lynn Costello, last seen leaving a house in West Babylon a few months later that same year.Trade Review“Kolker is a careful writer and researcher...[he paints] a far more nuanced picture of each young woman than any screaming headline could.” — Miami Herald “Through extensive interviews with the victims’ families and friends, Kolker creates compassionate portraits of the murdered young women, and uncovers the forces that drove them from their respective home towns into risky, but lucrative, careers as prostitutes in a digital age.” — New Yorker “Captivating.” — Boston Globe “Robert Kolker unflinchingly probes the 21st-century innovations that facilitated these crimes… ...An important examination of the socioeconomic and cultural forces that can shape a woman’s entry into prostitution.” — Kirkus Reviews “Beautifully and provocatively written.... [Lost Girls] will make all but the hardest-hearted empathetic. Add a baffling whodunit that remains, as the subtitle indicates, unsolved, and you have a captivating true crime narrative that’s sure to win new converts and please longtime fans of the genre.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Robert Kolker’s LOST GIRLS is reportage at the highest level; it’s miss-your-bedtime storytelling… It’s a wonder.” — Darin Strauss, author of Half A Life “Lost Girls is a marvelous book, taking a complicated, trying story and making it compulsively readable. Kolker is an outstanding reporter and a sensitive narrator who does justice to a horrible tragedy by paying exactly the kind of attention that no one else did, or would.” — Nick Reding, author of Methland “The absence of the killer is the making of this book, a constraint that allows it to become extraordinary…humane and imaginative…[Kolker] shows the dented magnificence and universal sorrow within ordinary lives, and makes you realize how much more they are worth.” — Laura Miller, Salon “Kolker indulges in zero preaching and very little sociology; his is the lens of a classic police reporter. And often in Lost Girls, the facts are eloquent in themselves.” — Newsday “Some true crime books are exploitative…others grasp at serious literature. Robert Kolker’s new book falls into the latter category.” — New York Observer “Readers expecting an SVU-style true-crime story will be disappointed. But through detailed profiles of the victims themselves, Kolker has written a more provocative book—a book that is as much about class and economic pressures as it is about sex work and murder.” — The Daily Beast “Meticulously reported and beautifully written, Robert Kolker’s Lost Girls is a haunting and powerful crime story that gives voice to those who can no longer be heard. It is a story that you will not be able to forget.” — David Grann, author of Killers of the Flower Moon “A gothic whodunit for the Internet age…nearly unputdownable…[LOST GIRLS is] a horrific, cautionary tale that makes for a very different kind of beach read…Kolker expertly chronicles the sad cycle of poor, uneducated white women faced with lots of kids and few resources.” — Mimi Swartz, New York Times Book Review “Rich, tragic...monumental...true-crime reporting at its best.” — Washington Post “Engrossing...a car-crash of a book...By humanizing the women, Mr. Kolker has produced a subtle indictment of the sex trade.” — Nina Burleigh, New York Observer “A heart-chilling non-fiction tour-de-force...terrifying and intensely reported.” — Complex Magazine “A rare gem of a book that not only tells a riveting story but illuminates something about a slice of America and gets into a lot of very deep issues. Its really great on every front.” — Slate, DoubleX “Riveting and often heartbreaking...a lashing critique of how society, and the police, let these young women down.” — New York Times “Immensely evocative...we are left with is a visceral understanding of the lives of the victims and why they should have mattered more.” — New York Daily News “Terrific...vivid and moving...Grade: A-” — Entertainment Weekly “So masterful.” — Megan Abbott, author of Dare Me , via Twitter “By learning the intimate details of the women’s lives, seeing them as humans rather than victims, we see our similarities…Lost Girls is possibly the realest, fullest picture of what is happening with sex work in the US right now.” — The Guardian (UK) “Kolker does not hold back in addressing the fact that there was dysfunction in these women’s lives. They were drug addicts and teenage mothers and petty criminals. They suffered. But he can also see that within those circumstances they had moments of strength and self-assurance. ” — Barnes & Noble Review “Lost Girls is partly unsolved mystery...[partly]the intimate story of the five women… [and] a case study in the profound impact of the Internet, and particularly Craigslist, on the business of buying and selling sex.” — National Post (Canada)

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Book SynopsisThe story behind the hit Netflix documentary: The bestselling account of the bond between brothers and the shocking legacy of a dangerous mother.Imagine waking up one day to discover that you have forgotten everything about your life. Your only link with the past, your only hope for the future, is your identical twin.Now imagine, years later, discovering that your twin had not told you the whole truth about your childhood, your family, and the forces that had shaped you. Why the secrets? Why the silences? You have no choice but to begin again.This has been Alex's reality: a world where memories are just the stories people tell you, where fact and fiction are impossible to distinguish. With dogged courage he has spent years hunting for the truth about his hidden past and his remarkable family. His quest to understand his true identity has revealed shocking betrayals and a secret tragedy, extraordinary triumph over crippling adversity and, above all, redemption founded on brotherly love.Marcus his twin brother has sometimes been a reluctant companion on this journey, but for him too it has led to staggering revelations and ultimately the shedding of impossible burdens. Their story spans continents and eras, from 1950s debutantes and high society in the Home Counties to a remote island in the Pacific and 90s raves. Disturbing, funny, heart-breaking and affirming, Alex and Marcus's determination to rebuild their lives makes us look afresh at how we choose to tell our stories.Trade ReviewA relevatory memoir http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jul/31/tell-me-who-am-lewis-review * Guardian *'Beautifully written, it poses key questions about selfhood and honesty'. * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisThe No. 1 Sunday Times Bestseller.At just eight years old, Jodie is violent, aggressive and extremely challenging. Five carers in four months have been unable to cope, but there is one last hope: Cathy GlassAs Jodie begins to trust Cathy and make progress, shocking details about her past come to light. No one had noticed the glaring signs of abuse by those who were supposed to love her most.One of Cathy's earliest and bestselling memoirs, Damaged is a heartbreaking story that proves just how valuable foster carers are for society's most vulnerable children.Trade Review'Cannot fail to move those who read it.' Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.' The Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’ The Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.' OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’ First Magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’ Star Magazine

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Book SynopsisFour-year-old Lisa's world turned upside down when her step-father moved in. Most of the time he was just violent but then he started making her do things she knew were wrong. Soon he was visiting her at night. Lisa begged her mother for help but she just shrugged, telling Lisa he would have his way. It was the greatest betrayal of all.Trade Review‘Truly remarkable … Lisa’s courage is an inspiration to us all.’ Shy Keenan and Sara Payne 'Her mother was no mother at all. In the face of the ultimate betrayal, Lisa somehow found the strength to rescue herself. Her plight inspired us to fight for a change in the law and her courage inspires victims everyday to speak out. She is and always will be a true Phoenix Hero.'Shy Keenan & Sara Payne MBE

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Book SynopsisEntering 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 Table of Contents* Trauma and Childhood Sexual Abuse in Psychoanalysis * Long-Term Sequelae and Diagnosis of childhood Sexual Abuse * An Integrative Model of Childhood Sexual Abuse * Dissociation * Disclosure and the Recovery of Memories * Reality Testing and the Question of Validation * Exposure to Danger, the Erotization of Fear, and Compulsive Self-Abuse * The Impact of Trauma on Transference and Countertransference * Eight Transference-Countertransference Positions * Transference and Countertransference: A Case Example * Technical Considerations in Treatment * Concluding Thoughts: Theoretical Implications and Reconsiderations

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Book SynopsisA Step-by-Step Guide for Working with Violent Clients Renowned family therapist Cloe Madanes presents a therapy of socialaction, a proven model of therapeutic intervention developed forprofessionals who work with violent men. At the very heart of thisapproach is the conviction that the offAnder is fully responsiblefor his actions. As evidence of this core belief, a therapy ofsocial action requires the offAnder to acknowledge his violentactions, demonstrate authentic repentance, make amAnds to thevictim, and find acceptable alternative behaviors.Table of Contents1. A Therapy of Social Action. 2. The Elements of Social Action in Therapy. 3. The Caged Animal. 4. The Knife in Her Heart (with James P. Keim). 5. Steps in the Therapy of Adult Sex Offenders. 6. The Juvenile Sex Offender (with Dinah Smelser and James P.Keim). 7. Abusive Husbands. 8. Judges' and Therapists' Mistakes. 9. The Past.

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Book SynopsisThere was an eerie silence in the packed courtroom as everyone looked towards the foreman of the jury. 'Guilty' he pronounced five times.The third most senior Catholic cleric in the world had been found guilty of sex crimes against children, bringing shame to the Church on a scale never seen before in its history.Investigative journalist Lucie Morris-Marr was the first to break the story that Cardinal George Pell was being investigated by the police. In this riveting dispatch, she recounts how the cleric was trailed by a cloud of scandal as he rose to the most senior ranks of the church in Australia, all the way to his appointment by Pope Francis to the position of treasurer in the Vatican.Despite anger and accusations, it seemed nothing could stop George Pell. Yet in 2017 he was charged by detectives, returning to Australia to face trial.Take a front row seat in court with the author as she reveals the many intriguing developments in the secret legal proceedings which the media could not report at the time. Fallen reveals the full story of the brutal battle waged by the prince of the church as he fought to clear his name, including a ferocious bid to be freed from jail. The author also shares her own compelling personal journey investigating the biggest story of her career and the frequent attacks she endured from powerful Pell supporters. This book also charts how Pell's shocking conviction plunged the Vatican into an unprecedented global crisis after decades of clergy abuse cases.It is a vitally important story that will fascinate anyone interested in the failure of the Catholic Church to address the canker in its heart.Trade ReviewUtterly absorbing -- Peter Donoughue * Booknotes *Gripping and insightful -- Chrissie Foster * AM *Table of ContentsForeword by Chrissie Foster AMPrologue: The secret wait1. A whisper in the dark2. Big George from Ballarat3. Silencing the lambs4. Winter Gail5. Wake up the cardinal6. Courting controversy7. Belinda's burden8. The Cathedral trial9. War cry from Rome10. Play it again, Kid11. Beyond reasonable doubt12. The world's worst kept secret13. Friends in high places14. Solitary retreatNotes

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Book SynopsisToni Maguire''s memoirtells the deeply moving story of an idyllic childhood that masked a terrible truth. Underneath her mother''s gentility and her father''s roguish charm lay horrifying secrets, which eventually led to their only child''s near destruction. The first time her father made an improper advance on Toni, she was six years old. Her father warned her not to tell her mother, or anyone else, because they would blame her and wouldn''t love her any more. It had to remain our secret. When she finally built up the courage to tell her mother what had happened, she was told never to speak of the matter again. With no one to turn to, isolated and alone in rural Ireland, the abuse continued unhindered. At14 Toni fell pregnant by her father, and when her state was discovered she was made to have a late abortion which almost killed her. The truth of her childhood could no longer be kept hidden but, just as her father predicted, Toni found herself judged and rejected by her family, teachers, and friends. The blame and anger she was treated with only worsened when her father was sent to prison as a result of his actions. This is the compelling story of her struggle to put the ghost of her childhood to rest, and emerge ultimately triumphant.Trade Review‘Hard to put down …. I truly felt I was living her life alongside her, being taken back in time. I could almost smell the honeysuckle and soda bread but also feel the dread and fear.’ Jane Elliott, author of the No.1 bestseller ‘The Little Prisoner’ 'This memoir is testament to [Toni Maguire's] amazing courage'. Closer magazine. ‘Amazing'. The Mirror.

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Book SynopsisThe harrowing true story of the young boy who captured the heart of the nation when he testified in court, to find justice against those responsible for his brother's death.

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Book SynopsisAbandoned at two weeks old, Paul came of age in the infamous St Leonard's Children's Home in East London. The children there were routinely abused, often over the course of many years. All were underfed and unloved and told that they would amount to nothing. Angry and frustrated, Paul channelled his rage into boxing - but when an accident shattered his ambition to turn professional, he found his true calling and became a successful trainer, even working as a consultant on the pilots for a top model's fitness video. Paul has now finally found peace and fulfilment beyond anything he could have imagined all those years ago: he is happily married with two children and, through his work, he helps to heal broken bodies, build confidence and transform lives. But he will never forget his past and the unnecessary victims of a broken society...

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Book Synopsis__________________________________________________________________Bestselling author and psychologist Dr Susan Forward offers effective alternatives for achieving inner peace and freeing yourself from frustrating patterns of relationships with your parents. Millions of lives are damaged by the legacy of parental abuse: Parents who ignored their children''s needs or overburdened them with guilt. Parents who were alcoholic or addicted to drugs. Parents who were exploitative and cruel, or simply indifferent and inadequate. When these children reach adulthood the damage done by their toxic parents manifests itself in depression, or difficulties with relationships, careers and decision-making. In Toxic Parents, Dr Susan Forward shows why it is so difficult to put the past behind you and helps readers to confront this painful legacy with tested self-help techniques. With this book as your guide, you will discover an exciting new world of self-confidence, inner strength and emotional independence.Trade ReviewA dynamic, powerful, hard-hitting book. It offers tremendous hope as well as understanding. It could truly be a lifesaver -- Abigail Van Buren, "Dear Abby"I consider Susan Forward to be among the foremost therapists of our age -- John Bradshaw, author of Healing the Shame That Binds You

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Book SynopsisA graphic novel bringing to life Orwell's dramatic formative experiencesTrade Review'A masterpiece of comic book writing. Orwell, with his tongue firmly in his cheek, takes the reader through a hilarious journey of what it was like to be a small boy cast into the alien world of prep schools' -- Richard Blair, Patron of the Orwell Society'Sean Michael Wilson has done a splendid job of bringing Orwell's formative years at St Cyprian's visually to life' -- D.J. Taylor, author of 'On Nineteen Eighty-Four: A Biography' (Abrams Press, 2019)‘Ground-breaking’ -- ‘Down the Tubes’'This book is amazing!' -- Ralph Fox, novelist

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Book SynopsisHeal your 'inner child' with Parks Inner Child Therapy Victims of child sexual abuse can suffer huge burdens of guilt and emotional trauma as adults, with devastating consequences for their relationships in all areas of their lives. But it's never too late to seek help, and Parks Inner Child Therapy (PICT) has been widely used to help people repair the damage caused by childhood abuse. Developed by psychotherapist Penny Parks, PICT is based on her own experience of self-recovery and aims to treat the hurt 'inner child' at the adult's core by offering them a voice and a narrative to make sense of their pain. Rescuing the 'Inner Child' offers victims an accessible guide to the therapy, and includes: - How to understand the impact of childhood abuse on your adult life - Clear guidance on using PICT to face your experiences, receive the comfort you needed as a child and self-heal - Accounts of other victims' trauma and their processes of therapy and restoration Written from a place of understanding and expert knowledge, this guide offers a programme for healing and recovery, invaluable for victims and their loved ones.Trade Review[Penny Parks] pioneered and developed the first stand-alone "inner child" therapy model, designed to successfully resolve childhood abuse issues * Huffington Post *How to achieve resolution without disclosure * Mental Health Today *[PICT] can produce profound, rapid and lasting change that ultimately leads to full resolution of underlying issues -- mindsite.co.uk

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Book SynopsisI could not ignore the tiny spark of hope that whispered to me that there might be someone with whom I could be vulnerable and real, and that this time they might just not let me down...This is the story of Alexia and her therapist Kim, and their three-year therapy journey to begin Alexia's path to recovery. Written from both perspectives, it is a powerful and revealing account of a therapist-client relationship. Together, the authors show the manifold challenges that adult survivors of childhood abuse have to overcome, and offer insight to all therapists on how relational interventions can pave a way to healing.

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Book SynopsisThe first book to provide practitioners with an evidence-based, practical guide to safeguarding children and young people from abuse in a world of sexting, selfies and snap chat.Trade Review“Claudia Megele’s argument is well made and comprehensive, it is hard not to agree with what she asserts and she has research to back up her assertions… Overall, it is a book that I would highly recommend to any practitioner working with young people, whether that is in the field of social work, psychotherapy, psychology or teaching.” Journal of Social Work PracticeTable of ContentsPreface Foreword Chapter 1. Digital Lives and Cyborg Childhood Chapter 2. Online Identity and Digital Citizenship and Boundaries Chapter 3. The 10 C’s Psycho-Socio-Ecological model for holistic safeguarding Chapter 4. Play and Online Video Games Chapter 5. “Internet Addiction”, Problematic Use of Online Media and Online Gambling Chapter 6. Sexting Chapter 7. Online Grooming and Sexual Abuse Chapter 8. Cyberbullying Chapter 9. Cybercrime, online offending and Youth Justice Chapter 10. Online Radicalisation Chapter 11. Future of Technology and its Safeguarding Challenges

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive resource is designed for training those who work with, parent and care for children and young people who have experienced the damaging effects of abuse, neglect and disruption to the primary caregiver relationship. Presented as an 11-session group programme, the pack offers an accessible overview of the core concepts of developmental trauma, trauma-informed therapeutic care, and self-care for carers. Reading materials, video clips and skills exercises support and reinforce each area covered. The underpinning model is Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), an approach which allows carers to get beyond the defences and blocked trust of children in their care using Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy (pACE). By helping participants understand and respond to the impact of developmental trauma on children, the resource aims to help reduce the spiral of failed relationships suffered by many young people who have been removed from their birth families.Table of ContentsSESSION 1: Attachment is a survival strategy; It's a marathon not a sprint SESSION 2: Non-verbal communication; Connecting to calm SESSION 3: Name it to tame it SESSION 4: Acting not re-acting SESSION 5: Finding your balance SESSION 6: PACE SESSION 7: SpACE - pACE for the Self SESSION 8: Be the thermostat not the thermometer SESSION 9: Structure and pACE to create a secure basis of safety SESSION 10: What you pay attention to with your heart and mind grows; Supporting not solving; Listening not lecturing SESSION 11: TRUST - Creating safety to help reduce stealing and lying SESSION 12: The places you'll go!

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Book SynopsisAs a survivor of sexual abuse in childhood, you may find that its effects continue to haunt you - bringing guilt and shame, perhaps depression and anxiety, eating disorders, troubled relationships and sexual difficulties. But although you can't alter the past, you can change the present and the future. Breaking Free, by Kay Toon and Carolyn Ainscough, draws on their nationally recognized and pioneering work as clinical psychologists giving a voice to the Survivors of child sexual abuse. It uses their courage and experiences to help other survivors face their past and take steps towards a better future. This new edition of the accompanying workbook now refers to types of abuse that have come to light more recently, such as street exploitation, and abuse by celebrities, politicians and football coaches, as well as the use of digital technology to groom children and young people. Practical exercises work step-by-step on the problems that result from being sexually abused as a child. They are designed to present survivors with different ways to think about the past, and to arm you with new strategies to move on from the problems that disrupt the present, and look forward to the future.Exercises like these can be very beneficial, but they can also be painful. They can bring up strong feelings, so at every stage your safety and well-being are the first concern, and the book includes essential coping strategies for getting the level of support you need.This practical book will be enormously useful for survivors of sexual abuse, and may also help those who have been abused emotionally or physically. Therapists will also find it a useful resource to use with clients, and both this book and Breaking Free are regularly recommended by professionals in the NHS and also in the media.Trade Review'The voice of the cowed, betrayed and helpless sexually abused child speaks powerfully throughout this book.' * British Journal of Psychiatry, on 'Breaking Free' *'The way the book instils hope is inspiring' * Journal of Social Work Practice on 'Breaking Free' *'This book will be enormously helpful to those who have endured sexual abuse.' * Nursing Times on 'Breaking Free' *

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Book Synopsis"He had raped me, had me beaten up, drained me of every last shred of self-respect. Surely he would leave me alone now? But that evening, as I was eating with my parents, the phone rang. My blood ran cold…" Christina O’Connor is the main prosecution witness from the Huddersfield Grooming scandal which saw 11 men convicted of a staggering 43 offences against her, including 22 counts of rape. Christina will describe how, from being an innocent child in a normal family, she fell into the clutches of a grooming gang whose abuse of children earned them a total of 257 years in prison. Christina’s helpless parents tried desperately to save their 13 year old daughter as she began playing truant, and was lured into sexual activities with complete strangers, in exchange for pizza, vodka and cannabis. After five years of almost daily rape, Christina committed robberies under duress from the grooming gang and was jailed. She made a complaint to police about the abuse, but no action was taken. She sees the prison term as her salvation; from this moment she turned her life around. Two years after her release, her police statement was found at the back of a filing cabinet, and Operation Tendersea, the investigation into the grooming gang was launched. This is the first time Christina has spoken out. She has waived her right to anonymity and wants the world to hear her voice.

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Book SynopsisCounselling Skills for Working with Trauma is a practical, introductory guide to counselling survivors of child abuse, neglect, rape, sexual violence, sexual trafficking, religious sexual abuse, and domestic abuse. Written in an accessible style, it provides a comprehensive introduction to complex trauma accompanied by advice on how to create a safe environment in which survivors can learn the skills to restore control over trauma symptoms, to aid healing and post traumatic growth. The book covers all of the key principles including: understanding the role of dissociation in complex trauma; the role of attachment; managing flashbacks, panic attacks, nightmares and dissociation; responding to shame and guilt; managing relationships; and the impact of working with complex trauma. It explores how practitioners can work more effectively with trauma, and offers techniques and skills which can easily be integrated into different therapeutic models.Featuring highlighted top tips, common pitfalls and a range of exercises, this is an essential guide for all professionals working with child and adult survivors of trauma.Trade ReviewThis book is fabulous... the absolute best I have ever read on the trauma associated with sex abuse. Written in clear language, it takes the understanding of the problem and the path to recovery to a new level, revealing the devastating nature of traumatic effects of abuse, but also providing a source of concrete hope through a realistic and attainable treatment and recovery program. The section on understanding complex trauma is a major gem in itself, and should be required reading for anyone involved in sex abuse at any level. -- Thomas Doyle, J.C.D., C.A.D.C, a Canon lawyer and outspoken advocate for clergy-abuse victims, USAThis book has a great deal to offer to all counsellors and psychotherapists, as well as other practitioners who work with people who have experienced trauma within the context of close relationships. The great strength of this book is that it considers all aspects of this area of therapy in an informed, accessible, caring and comprehensive manner. It represents an exceptional contribution to the literature and will become essential reading for both trainees and experienced practitioners. A welcome example of how knowledge and skills from a range of medical, social and psychotherapeutic approaches can be integrated into a coherent model of practice. -- John McLeod, Emeritus Professor of Counselling, University of Abertay, UK; Professor of Psychology, University of Oslo, NorwayTable of ContentsPart I: Understanding Complex Trauma. 1. Understanding Trauma and Complex Trauma. 2. Understanding Trauma Symptoms. 3. Understanding the Role of Dissociation. 4. Understanding the Role of Attachment. Part II: Working with Complex Trauma. 5. Safe Trauma Therapy. 6. Therapeutic Challenges. 7. Building and Maintaining the Therapeutic Relationship. 8. The Process of Recovery and Healing. Part III: Skills to Manage Complex Trauma Symptoms. 9. Establishing Safety and Control. 10. Skills to Improve Daily Life. 11. Managing Sensations, Feelings and Grounding Skills. 12. Managing Flashbacks, Panic Attacks, Nightmares and Dissociation. 13. Managing Negative Thoughts and Beliefs. 14. Managing Memories. 15. Managing Shame and Guilt. 16. Managing Self-Harm. 17. Managing Boundaries. 18. Managing Relationships. 19. Managing Sexuality. 20. Managing Loss and Mourning. Part IV: Post Traumatic Growth. 21. Restoring Reality and Expressing Needs. 22. Relapse Prevention. 23. Reconnecting to Self and Post traumatic Growth. Part V: Professional Issues. 24. Practitioner Self Care. Appendices.Trauma Assessment Scales. Resources and Trauma Assessment. Organisations. References. Index.

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Book Synopsis'A CHILLING new memoir by the daughter of mass murderer Fred West and his wife Rose describes the savage cruelty of her upbringing in 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester' DAILY MAIL'Mae, I mean this ... I'm not a good person and I let all you children down ...' Rose West, HM PRISON DURHAM It has taken over 20 years for Mae West to find the perspective and strength to tell her remarkable story: one of an abusive, violent childhood, of her serial killer parents and how she has rebuilt her life in the shadow of their terrible crimes. Through her own memories, research and the letters her mother wrote to her from prison, Mae shares her emotionally powerful account of her life as a West. From a toddler locked in the deathly basement to a teen fighting off the sexual advances of her father, Mae's story is one of survival. It also answers the questions: how do you come to terms with knowing your childhood bedroom was a graveyard? How do you accept the fact your parents sexually tortured, murdered and dismembered young women? How do you become a mother yourself when you're haunted by the knowledge that your own mother was a monster? Why were you spared and how do you escape the nightmare?

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Book SynopsisJohn Peel first brought Judy's moving childhood story to light on ‘Home Truths’. Abducted by her psychotic spiritualist father and kept like a dog in the backyard, she went on to suffer at the brutal hands of nuns in a Manchester orphanage, before living wild on the streets. An incredible, heart-wrenching story of a child who refused to give up.Trade Review‘If Judy’s story doesn’t become a book, DVD, video I’ll be amazed.’ John Peel

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Book SynopsisStuart just wanted his father to love him, but he was made to believe he was too naughty to be loved. Finally David Howarth was sent to prison for abusing Stuart's young sisters. Nobody knew the truth about Stuart's abuse until one fateful day when his father tried it again and Stuart fought back in the only way he knew how.Trade Review‘Truly moving.’ Fern Britten, This Morning

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Book SynopsisA shocking exposé of the terrible secrets at the heart of the Pitcairn Island community – a tale of systematic child abuse and rape which stretches back over 40 years.Trade Review‘Tragic and illuminating’ Sydney Morning Herald

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Book SynopsisA tale of survival and freedom, Stolen Innocence is the story of one heroic woman who stood up for what was right and reclaimed her life.Trade Review‘This book is captivating from the start and leaves you full of hope as you follow Elisa’s struggle to reach the outside world.’News of the World ‘Gripping real life drama.’Belfast Telegraph

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Book SynopsisSunday Times bestselling author and foster carer Casey Watson's first heartbreaking memoir.Justin was five years old; his brothers two and three. Their mother, a heroin addict, had left them alone again. Later that day, after trying to burn down the family home, Justin was taken into care.Justin was taken into care at the age of five after deliberately burning down his family home. Six years on, after 20 failed placements, Justin arrives at Casey's home. Casey and her husband Mike are specialist foster carers. They practice a new style of foster care that focuses on modifying the behaviour of profoundly damaged children. They are Justin's last hope, and it quickly becomes clear that they are facing a big challenge.Try as they might to make him welcome, he seems determined to strip his life of all the comforts they bring him, violently lashing out at schoolmates and family and throwing any affection they offer him back in their faces. After a childhood filled with hurt and rejection, Ju

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author comes a harrowing and moving memoir about two innocent and frightened unfosterable' children who do not know what it means to be loved.This is the third book in the series.The shock that strikes Casey and her family when Ashton and Olivia arrive is immeasurable. Two dirty, frightened little waifs stand before them, huge eyes staring around their new surroundings. Ashton 9, Olivia 6, have the same urchin look; hair running wild with head lice, filthy nails and skin covered in scabs. And the smell is horrific. The eldest two children of a group of five siblings, Casey had only been told they were coming two days earlier. But it was an emergency, temporary placement, and they were only due to stay a couple of weeksCasey is desperate to help these poor, lost children, who have been taken away from their family because they were considered at risk, but before she can even start to understand the horrific things that have happened in the past, she h

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Book SynopsisThe eleventh memoir and latest title from the internationally bestselling author and foster carer Cathy Glass. This book tells the true story of Cathy's adopted daughter Lucy.Lucy was born to a single mother who had been abused and neglected for most of her own childhood. Right from the beginning Lucy's mother couldn't cope, but it wasn't until Lucy reached eight years old that she was finally taken into permanent foster care.By the time Lucy is brought to live with Cathy she is eleven years old and severely distressed after being moved from one foster home to another. Withdrawn, refusing to eat and three years behind in her schooling, it is thought that the damage Lucy has suffered is irreversible.But Cathy and her two children bond with Lucy quickly, and break through to Lucy in a way no-one else has been able to, finally showing her the loving home she never believed existed. Cathy and Lucy believe they were always destined to be mother and daughter it just took them a little whileTrade ReviewREVIEWS FOR DAMAGED: 'Cannot fail to move those who read it.'Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.'Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.'OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’First magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’Star magazine

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Book SynopsisWhen Zoe was taken into care at the age of 13, she thought she was finally going to escape from the cruel abuse she had suffered throughout her childhood. Then social services placed her in a residential unit known to be ''a target for prostitution'', and suddenly Zoe''s life was worse than it had ever been before.Abused and ostracized by her mother, humiliated by her father's sexual innuendos, physically assaulted and bullied by her eldest brother, even as a young child Zoe thought she deserved the desperately unhappy life she was living.I've sharpened a knife for you,' her mother told her the first time she noticed angry red wounds on her daughter's arms. And when Zoe didn't kill herself, her mother gave her whisky, which she drank in the hope that it would dull the miserable, aching loneliness of her life.One day at school Zoe showed her teacher the livid bruises that were the result of her mother's latest physical assault and within days she was taken into care.Zoe had been at Denv

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Book SynopsisThe true story of 2 year-old Anna, abandoned by her natural parents, left alone in a neglected orphanage.Elaine and Ian had travelled half way round the world to adopt little Anna. She couldn't have been more wanted, loved and cherished. So why was she now in foster care and living with me? It didn't make sense.Until I learned what had happened. Dressed only in nappies and ragged T-shirts the children were incarcerated in their cots. Their large eyes stared out blankly from emaciated faces. Some were obviously disabled, others not, but all were badly undernourished. Flies circled around the broken ceiling fans and buzzed against the grids covering the windows. The only toys were a few balls and a handful of building bricks, but no child played with them. The silence was deafening and unnatural. Not one of the thirty or so infants cried, let alone spoke.

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Book SynopsisThe true story of 2 year-old Anna, abandoned by her natural parents, left alone in a neglected orphanage.

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Book SynopsisA BOY WITHOUT HOPE is the heart-breaking story of a boy who didn't know the meaning of love. A history of abuse and neglect has left Miller destined for life's scrap heap. But in this turbulent story of conflict and struggle, Casey Watson is determined to help Miller overcome his demons, show him love and give him hope.Casey Watson is back, doing the job she does best rolling up her sleeves and fostering the children who, on first meeting, seem like hopeless cases. But when she meets Miller and discovers the truth about his disturbing childhood, even Casey begins to doubt if this child will ever be able to accept love.Found naked and alone on a railway track, Miller was just five when he was first admitted into the care system. Emotionally tormented by his biological parents, Miller has never understood how to establish meaningful relationships, and his destructive past, and over 20 failed placements, is sealing his fate in society's social scrap heap.After a torrent of violent behavi

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