Selected self-help books, websites, and other resources for survivors of ritual abuse including resources about trauma, incest, sexual abuse and self-harm. Some books and websites focus on male survivors, some are also written by survivors or survivors who are therapists.
The healing: self-help books about workbooks page has further resources for recovery from sexual abuse, eating disorders, self-injury, substance abuse or addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other problems some people find are linked to surviving ritual abuse, extreme abuse or mind control.
Websites
David Baldwin’s Trauma Information Pages. Hundreds and hundreds of very useful resources on trauma of all types.
http://www.trauma-pages.com
Ellen Lacter’s website. A multitude of articles on the nature of and evidence for ritual abuse, healing, and psychotherapy and a links page with about five hundred entires. By psychotherapist Ellen Lacter, PhD.
https://endritualabuse.org
Male Survivor. Discussion boards and chat rooms for professionals and survivors, find a therapist or support, other resources.
https://www.malesurvivor.org/
Many Voices. A supportive website for people with dissociative identity disorder and similar dissociative conditions, featuring art and archives of their newsletter.
https://www.manyvoicespress.org/
National Self-Harm Network. Resources and a forum for people who self-injure or self-harm in other ways. Includes information for family and friends, people who self-harm including first-aif information, posters for awareness, and a comprehensive list of distractions – alternatives to self-harm. https://www.nshn.co.uk/downloads.html
Survivorship. Support for ritual abuse survivors. Conference, webinars, newsletters and a set of articles about healing, including dealing with mind control programming.
https://www.survivorship.org
Books for children and child parts/alters
Federico, Julie K. (2009). Some parts are not for sharing. Tate Publishing, Mustang, OK.
NOTE: Pre-school and first grade. Preview in Google books
Freeman, Lory and Deach, Carol. (1982) It’s my body. Parenting Press, Seattle, WA.
NOTE: Pre-school. Preview in Google books
Girard, Linda Walvoord. (1984) My body is private. Albert Whitman and Co, Morton Grove, IL.
NOTE: Third and fourth grades. Preview in Google books
Hindman, Jan. (1997) A very touching book: For little people and for big people.
NOTE: Kindergarten and first grade. Preview in Google books
Spelman, Cornelia Maude and Weidner, Teri. (1997) Your body belongs to you. Albert Whitman and Co, Morton Grove, IL.
NOTE: Kindergarten and first grade. Preview in Google books
Sanford, Doris. (1990) Don’t make me go back, Mommy: A child’s book about Satanic ritual abuse. Multnomah Press, Portland, OR.
NOTE: Children’s book but may be too frightening for children unaware of ritual abuse. A little girl discloses about ritual abuse in day care, and is believed and helped by her parents and therapist. Popular with adults with inner children (child parts). Not for children who are being abused at home.
Starishevsky, Jill (2009) My body belongs to me. Safety Star Media, NY, NY.?
NOTE: Kindergarten and first grade. For children who have been sexually abused.
Booklets
Survivors of Incest Anonymous. After-Effects of Repressed Satanic Cult Abuse – Image of Ritual Abuse: A Broad Overview – Image of Satanic Ritual Abuse: A Survivor’s Story - The Domino Effect: From Incest to a Cult and the Road to Recovery – The Domino Effect: From Incest to a Cult and the Road to Recovery – Understanding Ritual Abuse. Survivors of Incest Anonymous World Service Office, Inc, Baltimore, MD.
NOTE: Booklet, available from Survivors of Incest Anonymous, written for RA-friendly meetings called “Nothing Too Heavy to Share.” See https://siawso.org. Incest survivor blog Sparrow4everfree has published an Extract.
Books
Alderman, Tracy and Marshall, Karen. (1998) Amongst ourselves: A self-help guide to living with dissociative identity disorder. New Harbinger Pub., Oakland, CA.
A.T.W. (2005). Got parts? An insider’s guide to managing life successfully with dissocative identity disorder. Loving Healing Press, Ann Arbor, MI.
NOTE:A.T.W. offers methods, techniques, and exercises that helped her deal with her having Dissociative Identity Disorder. She does not believe that integration is essential in healing. Topics covered include: relationships, work, parenting, self-confidence, self-care, triggers, flashbacks, and body memories. Preview in Google Books
Bass, Ellen and Davis, Laura (2008). The courage to heal: A guide for women survivors of sexual abuse. 20th anniversary edition. Harpercollins, NY, NY. Also available in Spanish.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Preface to the First Edition – Breaking Silence – Believing It Happened – Healing Is Possible – Understanding That It Wasn’t Your Fault – Using the Writing Exercises – Using Guided Imagery: Grieving – Anger – Disclosures and Truth-Telling – TAKING STOCK TAKING CARE: Forgiveness? – Spirituality – Recognizing the Damage – Honoring What You Did – Resolution and Moving On – THE HEALING PROCESS: Getting in Touch with Your Feelings – An Overview – Trauma and the Brain – The Emergency Stage – Healthy Intimacy – Reclaiming Your Sexuality – Children and Parenting – Relating to Your Family Now – The Basics – Introduction – Anna Stevens – RESOURCE GUIDE: Finding Help Building Community – Resilience – Special Topics – Abuse by Clergy – Acknowledgments
NOTE: From the publisher: “The Courage to Heal is an inspiring, comprehensive guide that offers hope and a map of the healing journey to every woman who was sexually abused as a child. Weaving together personal experience with professional knowledge, the authors provide clear explanations, practical suggestions, and support throughout the healing process. New material includes: contemporary research on trauma and the brain; an overview of healing tools such as imagery, meditation, and body-centered practices; additional stories that reflect an even greater diversity of survivor experiences; the reassuring accounts of survivors who have been healing for more than twenty years; the most comprehensive, up-to-date resource guide in the field; and insights from the authors’ decades of experience. Cherished by survivors, and recommended by therapists and institutions everywhere, The Courage to Heal has often been called the bible of healing from child sexual abuse.” Includes some information on ritual abuse. Preview in Google books.
Bean, Barbara and Bennett, Shari (1993) The me nobody knows: A guide for teen survivors. Lexington Books, NY, NY.
NOTE: A workbook and informational resource for teenagers who have been
sexually abused. Contains material on incest and ritual abuse.
Blume, E. Sue, (1998) Secret survivors. Random House, NY, NY.
NOTE: From the publisher: “Secret survivors is the first book to expand the definition of incest to include any adult abuser and to focus on what incest does to survivors. E. Sue Blume shows how incest is often at the root of such problems as depression, sexual and eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, and phobias and panic disorders. Using this information and the author’s guidance, survivors can identify themselves, develop alternative, nondestructive survival techniques and begin again on a new path toward a rich and empowered life.”
Bromley, Nicole Braddock. (2007) Hush: Moving from silence to healing after childhood sexual abuse. Moody Pub., Chicago, Il.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Heartfelt Thanks – Our Little Secret – A Legacy of Hush – The Lie That Binds – Finding the Courage to Tell – In Search of Power – The Truth That Sets You Free – Choosing Life – The Cure for an Unforgiving Heart – Cutting the Cord – All You Need – The Desires of Your Heart – Making a Difference – The Healing Journey – No More Secrets
NOTE: A practical, down-to-earth Christian guide to healing.
Brown, Dee. (1996) Satanic ritual abuse: A handbook for therapists: How to deal effectively with the multiple personalities of ritual abuse survivors. Blue Moon Press, Denver, CO.
NOTE: A warm, encouraging introduction to the treatment of adult survivors of ritual abuse, written for therapists beginning work in this area. Probably difficult to locate, but worth reading.
Cassese, James, Ed. Gay men and childhood sexual trauma: Integrating the shattered self. Harrington Park, Binghamton, NY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Foreword: The State of the Art – Integrating the Experience of Childhood Sexual Trauma in Gay Men – Social Context – Phase Oriented Psychotherapy for Gay Men Recovering from Sexual Trauma – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing – Survivor Groups of Mixed Orientations – The Mistreatment of Non Traditional Sexual Abuse Survivors – Illusions of Intimacy – HIV and the Cycle of Trauma -Cross Cultural Perspectives – New Directions for Research Examining Sexual Trauma Histories of Gay men
NOTE: From the publisher: “[G]ay men (often) hide their childhood memories of being sexually victimized because of fear, shame, and the stigma of stereotypes which equate homosexuality with child abuse. Some gay men may view these histories as “rites of passage” and dismiss other perspectives as betrayals of their community or inadvertent support for the anti-gay agenda of the religious right. Certain therapists and so-called support groups ridicule them as hysterics with false memories. Groups like the North American Man-Boy Love Association or the Rene Guyon Society dismiss the source of their anguish as wishful thinking or a healthy, consensual intergenerational romance. …. Gay Men and Childhood Sexual Trauma discusses practical ways to help the survivor heal, including: adopting eye movement desensitization and reprocessing techniques to treat traumatized gay men helping gay men to break the old arousal patterns associated with their abusers, handling survivors’ formidable issues of trust, addictions, depression, and low self-esteem, leading survivor groups of mixed sexual orientation, discerning the special meaning of HIV to traumatized gay men, respecting cross-cultural differences in treating the gay male sexual trauma survivor (and) finding new directions for research.”
Clark, John. (2003) The healing of Satanically ritually abused multiple personality disorder. Authorhouse, Bloomington, IN.
Clay, Colin. (1996) More than a survivor: Memories of Satanic ritual abuse and the paths which lead to healing. 1337 College Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W6.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Warning – Forward (Karl Oberdieck, MD) – Introduction- Where adult memories begin- Triggers – The Satanic lifestyle – Survivors’ voices – Ritual abuse – Dissociation and multiple personality adaptation – The journey towards healing – Recommended reading – Index.
NOTE: More than a survivor covers a number of topics in clear and accessible language and is an excellent introduction to the topic of ritual abuse. Because it covers so much ground, from specific rituals to Nazism to different approaches to healing, no one chapter is all-inclusive. The author, an Anglican ecumenical pastoral counselor at the University of Saskatchewan, speaks in a gentle, non-authoritarian voice. Readers should be prepared for reproductions of survivor art, drawings of Satanic symbols, alphabets, and graphic prose and poetry by survivors. Canadians will be particularly interested in the discussion of some Canadian criminal investigations and trials and of ‘Bad Medicine,’ the perversion of Native American practices. May be difficult to find.
Cori, Jasmin Lee (2007). Healing from trauma: A survivor’s guide to understanding your symptoms and reclaiming your life. Avalon Pub, Cambridge, MA.
NOTE: The author is an incest survivor (from infancy) as well as a therapist. Although the book does not deal with ritual abuse, all the information is applicable. The focus is on resilience, gaining control, and creating a renewed life. There are “points to remember” and workbook type exercises throughout. Preview in Google Books
Daniels, April, Scott, April, and Scott, Carol (1992). Paperdolls: Healing from sexual abuse in Mormon neighborhoods. Palingenesia Press, Salt Lake City, UT.
Davis, Laura. (1990) The courage to heal workbook: for women and men survivors of child sexual abuse. Harper Collins, NY, NY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Introduction – About the Exercises in This Book – Survival Skills for Healing – Building Your Support System – Dealing With Crisis – Nurturing Yourself – Marking The Way – Where Did I Come
From? How Did It Change My Life? How Did I Survive? Aspects of Healing – Resolution And Moving on – Remembering – Believing It Happened – Breaking Silence – Understanding That It Wasn’t Your Fault – Learning to Trust Yourself – Grieving And Mourning – Anger – Confrontations – Dealing With Your Family Now – Guidelines For Healing Sexually – Resources
NOTE: From the publisher: “A combination of checklists, writing and art projects, and open-ended questions and activities expertly guides the survivor through the healing process. Survival Skills – Teaches survivors to create a safe, supportive environment, ask for help, deal with crisis periods, and choose therapy. Aspects Of Healing – Focuses on the healing process: gaining a capacity for hope, breaking silence, letting go of shame, turning anger into action, planning a confrontation, preparing for family contact, and affirming personal progress. Guidelines For Healing Sexually — Redefines the
concept of “safe sex” and establishes healthy ground rules for sexual contact.” Carefully thought out cognitive and creative exercises to accompany The Courage to heal. Respectful and empathetic through out.
Davis says in “About These Exercises”, “There may be moments when you feel inadequate, confused or unable to proceed…. That means there is a flaw in the design of the book, not in you.”
Preview in Google books
Davis, Laura. (1992) Allies in healing: When the person you love was sexually abused as a child. Harper Collins, NY, NY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Part 1: Partner’s questions: The basics: Allies in healing: My needs and feelings: Dealing with Crises: More about sexual abuse: Intimacy and communication: Sex: Family issues: Final thoughts. Part 2: Partner’s Stories: Introduction: Jack’s Story “Recovering together:” Marise’s Story “She works really hard and so do I:” Noah’s story “Crisis and cult abuse:” Eric’s story “The support of others:” Lorraine’s story “Breaking up:” Richard’s story “A year at a time:” Scott’s story “Building trust over time:” Virginia’s story “Forging a commitment:” Healing books and other resources: Index.
NOTE: Written in the format of The Courage to Heal, this book covers topics such as communication, sex, emergencies, and interacting with the survivor’s family. Girlfriends, boyfriends, spouses, and lovers are all included. Preview in Google books.
Dolan, Yvonne. M. (1991). Resolving sexual abuse: Solution-focused therapy and Ericksonian hypnosis for adult survivors. W.W. Norton, NY, NY.
NOTE: An experienced therapist presents a number of useful techniques for working with sexual abuse survivors. Adapter from the publisher’s statement: “Yvonne Dolan works from the assumption that, despite the traumas they have endured, clients have the inner resources to create uniquely effective solutions to their problems. Both solution-oriented and hypnotic techniques are used to tap those resources in the context of a safe, respectful relationship. Clients are encouraged to trust themselves, to move at their own right pace, and to recognize and build on tiny signs of healing. This approach enables clients to find relief from symptoms stemming from or related to the sexual abuse, to alter feelings associated with memories of trauma so that flashbacks become less intrusive, and to develop a positive, practical, and healthy future orientation. Ericksonian techniques are particularly powerful in enabling clients to resolve dissociated traumatic experiences, experience corrective development learnings, and turn the symptom of dissociation into a resource for healing. Solution-focused therapy ensures that clients not only resolve past sexual abuse but also form a clear map of functional behaviors and perceptions to replace trauma-based ones. Specific strategies are offered for treatment of post-traumatic amnesia, self-mutilation, sexual dysfunctions, memory problems, and a multitude of other symptoms.”
Einhorn, Lois. Ed. (2006) Forgiveness and child abuse: Would YOU forgive? Robert D. Reed, Bandon. OR.
NOTE: Lois Einhorn briefly describes the ritual abuse she endured as a child and then shares the fifty-three answers to the question, “Would you forgive?” Well known people who responded include Mumia Abu-Jamal, Patch Adams, M.D., Edward Asner, Art Buchwald, Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, Laura Davis, Thomas F. Eagleton, Albert Ellis, Paul Ferrini, Lynne Finney, Arun Gandhi, Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton, Linda Hogan, Rabbi Steven Jacobs, Bill T. Jones, Mary Elizabeth King, Robert Muller, Daniel Quinn, Robert C. Scaer, M.D., Pete Seeger, Bernie Siegel, M.D., Gerry Spence, Richard E. Vatz, Kurt Waldheim, and Everett L. Worthington, Jr., Jeanne Adams, Ellen Lacter, Rev. Bernie Bush, and Dale McCulley are active in the ritual abuse survivor community. All are articulate, thoughtful, and deeply human.
Engel, Beverly. (1990) The right to innocence: Healing the trauma of childhood sexual.abuse: A therapeutic 7-step self-help program for men and women, including how to choose a therapist and find a support group. Random House, NY, NY.
Fredrickson, Rene. (1992). Repressed memories; a journey to recovery from sexual abuse. Simon and Schuster, NY, NY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: A Dawning Reality – Warning Signs – How Could I Forget? – The Family System: Untold Lies – Memory Recovery Work – Imagistic Work – Dream Work – Alternative Strategies – Made Up Or Real? – Putting the Pieces Together – Telling Your Story – Healing – PTSD Symptom List – Guidelines for Responding to Disclosures of Abuse
Preview in Google Books
Gartner, R. B. (2005) Beyond betrayal: Taking charge of your life after boyhood sexual abuse. John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, NJ.
NOTE: This book covers both male and female abuse of boys and young men, by family members, clergy, teachers, babysitters, and health professionals. Dr Gartner’s patients share their stories to illustrate
the effects of abuse and the process of healing.
Preview in Google Books.
Gil, Eliana (1983, 2009). Outgrowing the pain: A book for and about adults abused as children. Dell Pub, NY, NY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Introduction – Coming to Terms with Abuse as a Child – Denial – Minimizing – After Effects of Abuse – Patterns of Relating to The World – Taking Hold of Your Past – Say Goodbye to The Parents – Addendum – Suggested Reading
NOTE: Simple language, short, and easy to read.
Preview in Google Books.
Grohol, John M. (2004) The insider’s guide to mental health resources online. Guilford Press, NY, NY.
NOTE: From the publisher: “… resources in psychology, psychiatry, and related areas such as self help and patient education. The book describes the full range of available search tools, newsgroups, listserves, and databases, including MEDLINE and PsychINFO-and reviews and rates hundreds of specific mental health sites. Users learn how and
where to go online to find treatment information, use Web based assessment tools, locate reliable advocacy and support groups, obtain articles and books, pursue distance learning opportunities, get listed in online directories, find job postings, conduct grant searches, and much more.”
Grubman-Black, Stephen. (1990, 2nd edition 2002) Broken boys/mending men: Recovery from childhood sexual abuse. Blackburn Press, Caldwell, NJ.
NOTE: From the author: “This book is meant to encourage telling, so
that feeling returns. It is meant to affirm for victims, survivors, and
those others who care and want to help, that it’s okay to tell.”
Hocking, Sandra J., Phoenix J. and Ross, Colin A. (1992) Living with your selves: A survival manual for people with multiple personalities. Launch Press, Rockville, MD.
NOTE: From Sidran Institute: “Designed to help people live with their condition, Living with Your Selves was written “by a multiple, for other multiples.” It is neither a clinical book, nor a workbook, although it contains elements of each. The author’s objective was to create a “how-to manual” for living, which would fill the gap between the clinical literature and survivors’ stories. It is a sensible and practical approach borne out of Hocking and Co.’s personal experiences, which are quite universal in application. Particularly useful are chapters entitled “Choosing a Therapist,” “Self-Healing and Therapy,” and “Covering Up versus Coming Out.” This last chapter deals with the risks and benefits of disclosure of multiplicity. It discusses who to tell, when to tell, how to tell, how much to tell, and perhaps most important, what motivates disclosure. Chapters on “Internal Organization” and “Contracting” are also very well done.
Hawkins, Diane W. and Hawkins, Tom. (2001) Supporting ritual abuse survivors. 9th ed. Restoration in Christ Ministries, Grottoes, VA.
NOTE: A Christian approach to healing form ritual abuse – kind, easy to understand, and psychologically sophisticated.
King, Neal. (1995) Speaking our truth: Voices of courage and healing for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. HarperCollins; Harper Paperback, NY, NY.
NOTE: Men who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse share their
stories and adult experiences, outline stages in the healing process,
and offer hope, inspiration, and guidance for other survivors.
Larsen, Earnest. Abused boys, wounded men: Taking responsibility for ending the cycle of pain. Workbook. Hazelden, Center City, MN.
NOTE: This book, the workbook, and the facilitator’s guide, (all
previewed in Google books) were developed for inmates and parolees who
are dealing with the repercussions of childhood abuse. This six-session
course is to help men understand what abuse looks like, determine
whether they have suffered from abuse, and take steps to move forward.
Preview in Google Books
Levine, Peter. (2005, 2008) Healing trauma: A pioneering program for restoring the wisdom of your body. Sounds True, Boulder, CO.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: A Tiger Shows the Way – What is Trauma? – The Causes
and Symptoms of Trauma - How Trauma Affects the Body – Twelve Phase
Healing Program: A Guide to the Audio Exercises – Sexual Trauma: Healing
the Sacred Wound -Spirituality and Trauma: Pathway to wakening –
Helpful Tips and Techniques for Preventing Trauma – Additional Resources
NOTE: Levine comes from a blend of theoretical viewpoints, including
Buddhism, but focuses on why animals get hurt but aren’t traumatized.
They shake all over after an initial fight or flight response, while
people normally remain frozen. He offers exercises to get back in touch
with the body and release the effects of the trauma. There is a CD with
the book to guide you through the exercises.
Preview in Google Books
Lew, Mike (2004). Victims no longer: The classic guide for men recovering from sexual child abuse. Harper Row, NY. NY. 2nd ed. (2004), HarperCollins, NY. NY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Sexual Abuse Myths and Reality – Messages about Masculinity – Men and Feelings – Sexuality, Homophobia, and Shame – Loss of Childhood: – Survival Strategies A New Perspective – Forgetting Denying Distancing and Pretending: Numbing – Compartments – Self Image, Self-Esteem and Perfectionism – Sex Trust and Caring: Is Recovery Possible? Breaking Secrecy – Relationships and Social Support – Sexual Feelings -: Individual Counseling – Groups And Workshops – Confrontation – Clergy Abuse – About Forgiving – Moving on – For and About Partners – Family And Friends – Other Resources – Books, Articles and Pamphlets – A Final Word
NOTE: From the publisher: The first book written specifically for men, Victims No Longer examines the changing cultural attitudes toward male survivors of incest and other sexual trauma. [Readers can:] Identify and validate their childhood experiences; explore strategies of survival and healing; work through issues such as trust, intimacy, and sexual confusion; establish a support network for continued personal recovery and make choices that aren’t determined by abuse”
Preview in Google Books
Lew, Mike (1999). Leaping upon the mountains: Men proclaiming victory over sexual child abuse. Small Wonder Books, Jamaica Plain, MA.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Part 1: Early Recovery: Books and Reading: Safe Environments: Professional Resources: Safe and Supportive Persons: Writing Activities: Other Creative Activities: Taking Difficult but Necessary Steps: Attention to Self: Attention to Others: Religion and Spirituality: Feelings: Intimate Relationships: Part 2: Mid-Recovery: Books and Reading: Safe Environments: Professional Resources: Safe and Supportive Persons: Writing Activities: Other Creative Activities: Taking Difficult but Necessary Steps: Attention to Self: Attention to Others: Religion and Spirituality: The Role of Feelings: Forgiveness, Risk, and Changes: Part 3: Late Recovery: Books and Reading: Safe Environments: Professional Resources: Safe and Supportive Persons: Writing Activities: Other Creative Activities: Taking Difficult but Necessary Steps: Confrontation: Limits and Boundaries: Attention to Self: Attention to Others: Religion and Spirituality: Interpersonal Exploration: Foregiveness: The Role of Feelings: Trust: Hope, Grace, and Moving On: Part 4: Victorious Messages: Man to Man: Argentina to Zimbabwe: Afterword: How Far We’ve Journeyed and what is Ahead: Resources
NOTE From the publisher: “Presenting the first real investigation of what male sexual assault survivors themselves identify as most important during various stages of recovery, Leaping upon the Mountains contains powerfully moving contributions from hundreds of MEN.”
Preview in Google Books
Maltz, Wendy. (1991, 2001) The sexual healing journey: A guide for survivors of sexual abuse. HarperCollins, NY, NY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: About the Sexual Healing Journey – Realizing There’s a Sexual Issue – Acknowledging the Abuse – Identifying the Sexual Impact – Deciding to Reclaim Our Sexuality – Creating a New Meaning for
Sex – Finding Our Real Sexual Selves – Gaining Control over Automatic
Reactions – Moving Toward Healthy Sexual Behavior – Healing with an Intimate Partner – Techniques for Relearning Touch – Solving Specific Sexual Problems – Enjoying Sexual Experiences – Resources
NOTE: From the publisher: “Based on the author’s extensive training and experience in working with abuse survivors, The Survivor’s Guide to Sex
offers an affirming, sex-positive approach to recovery from incest and rape. While most books on the topic broach sexuality only to reassure women that it is alright to say “no” to unwanted sex, this one encourages women to learn how to say “yes” to their own desires and on their own terms.
Preview in Google books.
Matthew, Laurie. (2001) Who dares wins! Young Women’s Centre Ltd, Scotland.
NOTE: Intended as a basic information resource rather than self-help. Covers issues such as: feminism and ritual abuse, supporting survivors of ritual abuse, children and ritual abuse and a survivor’s perspective.
More information from https://www.mairsinn.org.uk/publications.html and general booksellers.
Matthew, Laurie. Where angels fear. Young Women’s Centre Ltd, Dundee, Scotland. Sequel to Who dares wins!
Available from https://www.mairsinn.org.uk/publications.html and general booksellers.
Matsakis, Aphrodite. (1996) I can’t get over it: A handbook for trauma survivors. New Harbinger Pub, Oakland, CA.
NOTE: From a reader’s review: “A tremendously useful book – I recommend this to any client I have who is a trauma survivor dealing with PTSD symptoms. It is a down-to-earth “owner’s manual” for improving one’s quality of life by understanding the problem, reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms being triggered, and speeding up the relief of those symptoms when it does happen. Matsakis is one of the field’s leading authorities on PTSD, and she has performed a work of real service and compassion by writing this.”
Miller, Alison. (2012) Healing the Unimaginable: Treating Ritual Abuse and Mind Control. Karnac Books, London, England.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Preface: E. Sue Blume – Foreword: Valerie Sinason – Introcution – A therapist’s first experience with ritual abuse and mind control (with thanks to “Lorraine”, “Teresa”, “Tony”, and “Jennifer”) – Ritual abuse and mind control: the definition evolves – The basics of therapy – Markers of mind control and ritual abuse – “Ritual” abuse: religious and creed-based abuses, with contributions by: Old Lady: “The special child’s spiritual training” Adriana Green: “The strangers’ house” – Military, political, and commercial uses of mind control, with contributions by: Trish Fotheringham: “Mind control as I experienced it” Jeannie Riseman: “A 1940s system of programming – A reversed Kabbalah trainer speaks, contributed by Stella Katz – The programming: indoctrination, lies, and tricks – Understanding and working with alters’ jobs and hierarchies, with a contribution by: LisaBri: “When therapists make mistakes” – Dealing with programming: alternative strategies, with contributions by: Jeannie Riseman: “Programming: taking the wind out of its sails” Robin Morgan: “Dismantling my inner structures” – “Stabilization” takes on a new meaning – “Maybe I made it up,” with contributions by: LisaBri: “Honesty and denial” Carol Rutz: “Validating my mind control memories” – Boundaries and bonds: the therapeutic relationship, with contributions by: Stella Katz: “For Miranda” LisaBri: “A survivor in therapy” – Treating programmed pedophilia (with thanks to “Jennifer”) – The unimaginable – Working with the traumatic memories – Successful resolution: co-consciousness or integration, with contributions by: Jen Callow: Part 1: “To integrate or not to integrate” Jen Callow: Part 2: “Building inner community” Stella Katz: “Reclaiming me – Ritual abuse and mind control treatment: greater than the sum of its parts – Appendices: 1. Resources (books and websites) 2: Satanic calendar
NOTE: Review from Goodreads “Although Dr. Miller’s book was written as a manual for therapists who are helping ritual abuse and mind control survivors to heal effectively, I/we (survivor(s) of ritual abuse/torture, mind control, rape/torture and incest) have also read the book and find it to be an invaluable resource. Before reading the manual, we sought our therapist’s advice about which chapters to read and also checked regularly with our insiders before reading the book further. Dr. Miller truly appreciates her clients’ (and their insiders’) need to be heard in a respectful way so that the therapist may be able to understand and work with the client’s system in a manner that is most beneficial for the client’s healing. Hence, Dr. Miller not only shares her knowledge, insight, wisdom, experience and expertise that she has gained from listening/working with survivors, but she has sought out some survivors to share pertinent information about their specific systems, ritual abuse and mind control experiences and their advice for therapists. Consequently, Dr. Miller and these survivors, through their words, encouraged me/my insiders to do what was forbidden, to think for ourselves, and begin to really understand how the perpetrators used lies, tricks, theatrics and/or torture to try and control us so that we may become as evil/sick as them or become self-destructive via their programming tactics. The perpetrators did not and will not succeed though because now we know that we are not alone.
Furthermore, this book disempowers the perpetrators and exposes them for who they really are. Dr. Miller’s book is not only helping us to heal well, it is empowering us to help other survivors heal and thrive as worthy human beings.”
NOTE: For therapists. Preview in Google Books.
Miller, Alison (2014). Becoming Yourself: Overcoming Mind Control and Ritual Abuse. Karnac Books, London, England.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Symptoms, memories and evidence – The struggle for healing – Dissociation, multiplicity and personality systems – Engineered multiplicity: personality systems created by mind control – Indoctrination – Sally from three perspectives – 7 Internal hierarchies – Talking with the higher-ups – Keeping safe from the perpetrator group – Dealing with triggering – Building inner community – Coping with daily life – Emotions – What about the memories? Putting together the traumatic memories – Looking at your family – Healing your sexuality – Succeeding in friendships and relationships – Therapy and therapists – Overcoming spiritual abuse – Becoming yourself
NOTE: From the publisher: “In contrast to the author’s previous book, Healing the Unimaginable: Treating Ritual Abuse and Mind Control, which was for therapists, this book is designed for survivors of these abuses. It takes the survivor systematically through understanding the abuses and how his or her symptoms may be consequences of these abuses, and gives practical advice regarding how a survivor can achieve stability and manage the life issues with which he or she may have difficulty. The book also teaches the survivor how to work with his or her complex personality system and with the traumatic memories, to heal the wounds created by the abuse. A unique feature of this book is that it addresses the reader as if he or she is dissociative, and directs some information and exercises towards the internal leaders of the personality system, teaching them how to build a cooperative and healing inner community within which information is shared, each part’s needs are met, and traumatic memories can be worked through successfully.”
NOTE: For a book for survivors wanting to heal from ritual abuse involving trauma-based mind control. Preview In Google Books.
Napier, Nancy J. Getting through the day: Strategies for adults hurt as children. Sidran Foundation Press, Baltimore, MD.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Introduction: I know I have Been Hurt, But Now What?
Dissociation and Childhood Hurts: When You Have a Need Not to Know
-Therapeutic Dissociation: A Better Way – Identifying Triggers: Why Am I
So Scared? Healing with “Mindfulness”: Something to Hold on to –
Containing and Sitting with Feelings: I Feel Like I’m Going to
…Disappointment and Despair: I Just Don’t Know What to Do – Dealing with
Inner Child Parts: What Do I Do with Them Now? Shame And the Disowned
Self: I Can’t Bear to Let You See…Your Future Self: Could That Possibly
Be Me? What about the People in My Life? What about My Therapist? In
Fact, What about Therapy?
NOTE: From the publisher: “ In
straightforward language, the author discusses the continuum of
dissociation and explains the difference between ordinary mood shifts
and trauma-induced dissociation. Chapters are devoted to the therapeutic
value of dissociation, triggers, mindfulness, “inner child” parts,
shame, your “future” self, and your relationships with family, friends,
and therapist.
Preview in Google books
Oksana, Chrystine. (1994, 2001) Safe passage to healing: A guide for survivors of ritual abuse. Harper Perennial, NY. NY, and iUniverse, Lincoln, NB.
NOTE: Written in the format of Ellen Bass’ The Courage to Heal, this is the first and still the best book on healing from Ritual Abuse. The chapter on the crisis phase has probably saved more lives than any other book written on ritual abuse. If you can only buy one book, buy this one.
Rauch, Mikele. (2009) Healing the soul after religious abuse: The dark heaven of recovery. Praeger Pub., Westport, CT.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: The Nightmare of Light – Trauma and the Life Cycle – When Religion Is the Abuser – Spiritual Leadership and the Trance of Religious Power – Psychological and Physical Abuse in the Name of God – When Religious Violate in the Name of God: Sexual and Ritual Abuse – Recovery in Four Directions – The Water of Life – Resources – Glossary – Notes – Bibliography
NOTE: Chapter 6 is devoted to sexual and ritual abuse. The authors make the point that abuse occurs in religious settings other than Christian churches.
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Reid, Greg (1995). Orphans in the storm: Male survivors of sexual and ritual abuse. Youthfire Publications, El Paso, TX and The American Focus on Satanic Crime Vol. 27. American Focus Publishers, Edison, NJ.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Looking for the Signs – Where Predators Hunt- Myths
About Abused Boys – Types of Abuse & Abusers – What A Victim Looks
Like – What Not To Tell Us – A Predator Toolkit t – Open Letter To The
False Memory Syndrome Foundation – Sleeping… Sort Of – The Hurt Of
Being Different – Doubt and Denial – Sadness – Telling the Secret – What
Being Molested Cost Me – Why We Don’t Talk- Predator Radar – Then and
Now- Out of the Revolving Door – Touch…The First Time – It Felt
Good…Sort Of – Authority – Feeling My Skin – Teddy Bear or Tiger? –
Letting Go – Letter to a Molester – Letter to Joel – I’ve Got Nothing to
Prove – I’ve Got To Do Something- Epilog
NOTE: Part One contains
facts helpful to professionals and Part Two addresses personal issues
molested boys, teens and men face on the road to healing.
See http://www.gregoryreid.com/id51.htm
Rose, Emilie P. (1996) Reaching for the light: A guide for ritual abuse survivors and their therapists. Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, OH.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Foreword (Renee Frederickson): Preface:
Introduction: Prelude: Davida Angelica roared: The basics: What is
ritual abuse? Building networks: Interlude I: Michelle’s story: Kid
management: Interlude II: Adam’s story: Reprogramming: overcoming Mind
control: Loss and grief: Interlude III: Living the questions: Facing
Evil: Interlude IV: Baby angels: reclaiming ritual as an agent of
healing: Interlude V: from a child survivor of ritual abuse: Healing our
spiritual selves: Interlude VI: Love in real: Long-term healing: For
therapists and helpers: Postlude: Courageous hope: Definitions: Guided
imagery for creating a safe place: Notes: The survivor’s glossary of
medical terms.
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Rosenbloom, Dena, Williams, Mary Beth, Watkins, Barbara E., and Pearlman, Laurie Anne. (2010) Life after trauma: A workbook for healing. Guilford Press, NY, NY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Prologue Before You Begin Why You Feel Thrown for a
Loop – Thinking Things Through – Feeling Safe, Being Safe – What Does
Safety Mean to You? – Do You Feel Safe Enough? – Summarizing Your Work
on Safety – What Does it Mean to Trust? – Regaining Control in Your life
– Valuing Yourself and Others – Feeling Close to Others – Epilogue:
Healing for the Long Term – Toward a Greater Meaning – Recommended
Resources – About Psychotherapy – Be Aware of Your Own Beliefs
NOTE:
Detailed exercises designed to explore and evaluate basic attitudes,
evaluate areas of strength and weakness, and designing ways to act
differently in the future.
Preview in Google books.
Ryder, Daniel (1992). Breaking the circle of ritual satanic abuse: Recognizing and recovering from the hidden trauma. CompCare Publishers, Minneapolis, MN.
NOTE A book on healing from ritual satanic abuse that combines current therapeutic approaches to post trauma states with the 12-step philosophy of Survivors of Incest Anonymous.
St. Clair, Moriah S. (1998) Abused beyond words: The healing journey of reclaiming our inner power and peace by speaking the unspeakable truth. Pathways United Publications, Corte Madera, CA.
Sanford, D. (1990) Don’t make me go back, Mommy: A child’s book about satanic ritual abuse. Multnomah Press, Portland, OR.
NOTE: Children’s book written for five to eight year olds. A little girl discloses about ritual abuse in day care and is believed and helped by her parents and therapist. Popular with adults with inner children.
Smith, Margaret. (1993) Ritual abuse: What it is, why it happens, how to help. HarperSanFrancisco, San Francisco, CA
NOTE: A general introduction to ritual abuse and healing, written by a
survivor/multiple, with a chapter on getting out if you are currently
cult-involved.
Sonkin, Daniel Jay. (1998) Wounded boys, heroic men: A man’s guide to recovering from child abuse. Adams Media, Holbrook, MA.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Introduction: Child Abuse and You – Preparation for
Your Journey – The Abuse and the Wounds – Breaking Denial: “I Was an
Abused Child” – Healing through Feelings – Healing through Attitudes –
Healing through Behaviors – Healing through Sexuality – Making Peace
with Your Abuser – Epilogue – Wounded Heroes – How to Start a Self-Help
Wounded-Men’s Group – A Selection of Suggested Readings – National
Resources – A Selection of Internet Resources – The Hero’s Journey
NOTE: A workbook for men who have been physically, sexually, or
psychologically abused with instructions for applying methods by which
abused men can avoid abusing others.
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Terr, L. (1994). Unchained memories: True stories of traumatic memories, lost and found. Basic Books, NY, NY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Ringside Seats at an Old Murder – Expert Witness for the Prosecution – A Drunken Woman at the Side of the Road – The Silver at the Surface of the Water – The Two Miss Americas of 1958 and Her Sister – The Child Stars Tale – The Black Dahlias Son – Searching for Corky
NOTE: This book is written in narrative style, describing the experience of people as they recount their memories. The most interesting part of he book is the chapter on a child who was coached into reporting abuse. The way the child describes the experience is stilted and constrained – very different from the way normal children disclose.
Trout, Diana. (2009) Journal spilling: Mixed-media techniques for free expression. North Light Books, Cincinnati, OH.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Welcome – Gathering Supplies – Warming Up – Stretch
Spill – Plunge In – Lean Into Trust – Taming the Critic – Secrets Wishes
– My Space – Lifeline – Field Trips – Resources
NOTE: From a
reader’s review on GoodReads: “Throughout the book, the author talks
about keeping moving. At one point she refers to it as aerobics for
creativity. The idea is to not think too much and keep moving
creatively; to keep your hand moving. She also gives some advice on what
to say to your mind if it starts to interrupt (which mine does all the
time!!): “…quietly tell it you are busy right now.” … There are lots
of things to try in this book: paper dolls, using book covers to make a
journal, making glitter glue, using white out as an art supply, cutting
rubber stamps, using regular household items to make marks, book making,
and many other exercises and techniques. She also tells you how to make
a traveling kit.”
Williams, Mary Beth and Soili Poijula (2002) The PTSD workbook: Simple, effective techniques for overcoming traumatic stress symptoms. New Harbinger Publications, Oakland, CA.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Before Doing the Work: Safety, Security, and
Intention – Identifying and Writing about What Has Happened to You – My
Traumatic Experiences – Coping with Trauma with Less Avoidance and
Denial Dealing with Associated Symptoms of PTSD: Guilt, Survivor Guilt,
Shame, and Loss – Difficulty Regulating Emotion – Alterations in
Attention or Consciousness: Dealing with Dissociation and Traumatic
Amnesia – How Trauma Impacts the Way You View Yourself – Dealing with
Your Perpetrators – Finding Meaning
NOTE: From the authors: “In this
workbook, you will have the opportunity to complete numerous exercises
that will give you insight into your symptoms, your beliefs, your
behaviors, and your feelings about the trauma or traumas you endured.
Many of these exercises can be completed in the book itself, so that the
book becomes a record of your recovery from trauma as well as a
resource for you to turn to again and again throughout that recovery.
Other exercises can be completed in a separate notebook or journal,
which can also be used to expand upon the exercises you complete in the
book or to record your other thoughts and feelings along your journey to
healing.”
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Wood, Wendy Ann (1991). Triumph over darkness: Understanding and healing the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. Beyond Words Publishing: Hillsboro, OR.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Letter to the editor – Perceptions – Seeing the darkness before the light – Tangled scars – Looking back fifty-eight years – Letter unmailed – My feelings – Told my mother – A symbolic act – This is a poem about incest – People do not really want to know – If not for group – Nasty words – Told God I was angry – Other – Remembering – Not remembering – Telling – Living out loud – Building – My dream – Silence – Who are you? – Evil – Expectation – remembering – Seeing the darkness before the light – Moving beyond the darkness – Telling about it – Letters between mother and daughter – My recovery – Suggested readings – On male survivors of sexual abuse – Therapy- Voices of male
survivors – Survivors of childhood sexual abuse – Broken – With ritually abused survivors – Insights – Partners in healing – And/or committed relationship – Those who go through our pain with us – Survivor- A Tool
To Journey Inward
NOTE: Poems and essays. Includes healing strategies, personal accounts, poetry, questions and answers, “progress reports” on survivors, and a chapter on ritual abuse. Preview in Google books.
Woodsum, Gayle M. (1998) The ultimate challenge: A revolutionary, sane and sensible response to ritualistic and cult-related abuse. Action Resources International, Laramie, WY.
NOTE: From the publisher: “The Ultimate Challenge… Provides a thorough
presentation of what ritualistic and cult-related abuses are, why they exist, and how offenders get away with what they do. In a unique and straightforward manner, it intentionally de-mystifies and de-sensationalizes the most sophisticated of child abuses while forcing the reader to question popularly accepted myths that trap victims and survivors. The original analysis presented offers a framework within which service providers can dare to break from the limitations of institutionalized thinking and offer clients complete release from the
realities and consequences of horrific abuse. Additionally, it provides victims and survivors with a philosophy they can apply to their individual situations and needs, creating a path to liberation from abuse with or without support from the outside world.”
Taylor, Brice. Revivification: A gentle, alternative memory retrieval process for trauma survivors. Available from Brice Taylor Trust, P.O. Box 655, Landrum, SC 29356, USA. Some copies may be found at online used book stores, or on the Internet Archive.