Counselling Survivors of Domestic Abuse

"This is a really helpful book for anyone working in the field of domestic abuse, whether counsellor, therapist,health professional, refuge worker,or indeed anyone who is involved in helping people who are, or have experienced, domestic abuse. There is so little available specifically on counselling and helping survivors of domestic abuse that I was delighted to find one book that encompasses both a deeper understanding of the nature and complex dynamics of domestic abuse, the impact it has and why it so hard to leave abusive relationships. Christiane Sanderson writes in a clear, accessible and authoritative style, providing a calm and containing oasis in what is often an emotionally distressing area of work. What was most helpful for me was gaining a much deeper insight into the nature of traumatic bonding and the difficulties survivors face when leaving abusive relationships, and how practitioners can best help such clients. The emphasis is on restoring safety, control and autonomy within the framework of a warm, engaged and supportive therapeutic relationship, in which clients can explore and grieve the damage caused by domestic abuse. Sanderson dedicates the book to 'all those who risk connection despite repeated betrayal' and honours the courage of survivors to recover from domestic abuse. As she say, this can be very difficult and demanding work and yet the most rewarding, as survivors move from survival to post traumatic growth and the restoration of hope allowing them to re-connect to self, others and the world. What is also extremely useful is the chapter on how working with survivors of domestic abuse impacts on practitioners, the dangers of vicarious traumatisation and how to prevent secondary traumatic stress by looking after ourselves. The book's positive approach to healing and the restoration of hope is inspirational and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested domestic abuse, including survivors themselves to gain a deeper insight into such experiences and how to recover from them."
~ Written on 2008-06-27