What do you think?
Rate this book
Without Consent: How to Overcome Childhood Sexual Abuse
Without Consent was conceived to meet the needs of the 32 million American women who have been sexually abused as children, this powerfully compassionate work avoids the typical cliche solutions of so many "self-help" books. Written in a clear, concise manner, this book is of immeasurable benefit to victims and their families as well as mental health professionals.
The authors contend that it is the immobilizing effects of fear and shame which prevent most victims from ever telling anyone about their experiences. Although many of these women outwardly appear to suffer no ill effects from their childhood experiences, closer study has shown that the majority of them still bear serious emotional scars.
The authors promote a balanced approach to confronting and resolving issues resulting from childhood sexual abuse. They define the problems resulting from abuse, outline individual exercises for recovering, describe support systems to be utilized, and delineate when the involvement of a competent professional therapist is needed. Without Consent offers victims a proven workable framework for overcoming childhood sexual abuse one-day-at-a-time.
The authors effectively explain the manner in which a person's thinking is influenced by abuse and the resulting "core beliefs" that sexual abuse victims share. They describe the everyday emotional effects that adults struggle with as a result of childhood abuse. They show specific ways in which former victims keep themselves powerless or "out of control." Finally, they reveal the many ways in which intimate relationships are effected by abuses of the past.
With sensitivity and wisdom, obviously born of their own personal and professional experiences, they assist victims in realizing that they are not alone, shameful, defective, or crazy. They offer effective techniques or "tools" to alter core beliefs, change self-defeating emotional patterns, develop habits for healthy power and control, and strategies for cultivating trust, intimacy, and healthy sexual relationships.
The theme which dominates the pages of Without Consent is that for the victims of childhood sexual abuse, not only is there hope, but "'life can be lived with joy and fulfillment."
The authors contend that it is the immobilizing effects of fear and shame which prevent most victims from ever telling anyone about their experiences. Although many of these women outwardly appear to suffer no ill effects from their childhood experiences, closer study has shown that the majority of them still bear serious emotional scars.
The authors promote a balanced approach to confronting and resolving issues resulting from childhood sexual abuse. They define the problems resulting from abuse, outline individual exercises for recovering, describe support systems to be utilized, and delineate when the involvement of a competent professional therapist is needed. Without Consent offers victims a proven workable framework for overcoming childhood sexual abuse one-day-at-a-time.
The authors effectively explain the manner in which a person's thinking is influenced by abuse and the resulting "core beliefs" that sexual abuse victims share. They describe the everyday emotional effects that adults struggle with as a result of childhood abuse. They show specific ways in which former victims keep themselves powerless or "out of control." Finally, they reveal the many ways in which intimate relationships are effected by abuses of the past.
With sensitivity and wisdom, obviously born of their own personal and professional experiences, they assist victims in realizing that they are not alone, shameful, defective, or crazy. They offer effective techniques or "tools" to alter core beliefs, change self-defeating emotional patterns, develop habits for healthy power and control, and strategies for cultivating trust, intimacy, and healthy sexual relationships.
The theme which dominates the pages of Without Consent is that for the victims of childhood sexual abuse, not only is there hope, but "'life can be lived with joy and fulfillment."
203 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1989
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 2, 2020
A good read focusing on making sure abuse victims know they are not at fault, whatsoever. and it is not their job to carry the guilt or shame.
That being said, a lot of itnrevolved around god and faith, which got old fast. It's why this book is getting a 2 instead of a 4. Not all people follow faith. YOU work to get through things, not some higher power.
That being said, a lot of itnrevolved around god and faith, which got old fast. It's why this book is getting a 2 instead of a 4. Not all people follow faith. YOU work to get through things, not some higher power.
January 8, 2026
It's crazy to think, sometimes, about how something that happened when you are a child can completely change everything about you as you grow into adulthood. Reading this book, I could see a lot of the links between the abuse and the person I became as a young adult. I had certainly suppressed the abuse, but it explains so much. The first step to healing is finding the connection. This book can help you do that.
June 15, 2021
Very educational
This is a book about adults who were victims of sexual abuse as children. It is a great book for victims, and tells about people who are finding their way out of the paralyzing effects of child abuse.
This is a book about adults who were victims of sexual abuse as children. It is a great book for victims, and tells about people who are finding their way out of the paralyzing effects of child abuse.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews