Description
Book SynopsisA beacon of hope for women and men who fear that they will pass the abuse they have suffered on to their children, partners, or employees. Humane and compassionate but also clear and down to earth, this is a wonderful contribution to the literature on healing.
--Lundy Bancroft, author of When Dad Hurts Mom and Why Does He Do That?
In this remarkably powerful, wise, and compassionate book, Beverly Engel leads readers step by step through a program that will help survivors of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse in childhood to heal from their wounds so they don''t need to re-enact their abusive pasts. She offers expert advice and strategies to help parents and would-be parents avoid doing to their children what was done to them and helps both abusers and victims in emotionally and physically abusive relationships make vitally important changes in their relationships.
--Susan Forward, Ph.D., author of Toxic Parents and Emotional Blackmail
If you were
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments.
Introduction.
PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING THE LEGACY OF ABUSE.
1. What Will Be Your Legacy?
2. Assessing Our Risk Factors.
3. Why We Do to Others (and Ourselves) What Was Done to Us.
PART TWO: FACING THE TRUTH AND FACING YOUR FEELINGS.
4. Coming Out of Denial.
5. Learn to Identify and Manage Your Emotions.
6. Learn How to Identify and Manage Your Shame.
7. Managing Your Anger.
8. Coping with Fear.
PART THREE: ABUSE PREVENTION STRATEGIES.
9. How to Prevent Partner Abuse.
10. How to Prevent Child Abuse.
11. If You Have Already Become Abusive.
12. If You Have Already Been Abused or Established a Victim Pattern.
PART FOUR: LONG-TERM STRATEGIES TO HELP YOU BREAK THE CYCLE.
13. Emotionally Separating from Your Parents.
14. Facing the Truth about Your Family Legacy.
15. Breaking into the Dysfunctional Family System.
16. Continue to Heal.
Epilogue.
Resources.
References.
Recommended Reading.
Index.
