Healing the Scars of Childhood Abuse: Moving beyond the Past into a Healthy Future

by Gregory L. Jantz, Ann McMurray

The deep pain of childhood abuse--whether physical or emotional, whether a child was neglected or wished nothing more than to be left alone--doesn't just go away. There's simply no just getting over it. Even if no physical scars remain as evidence of the victim's suffering, the deep wounds on their minds, hearts, and souls are still there. But it is possible to become whole and happy.

Author of the successful Healing the Scars of Emotional Abuse, Dr. Gregory Jantz now helps readers understand the effects of childhood abuse on their emotional, intellectual, physical, relational, and spiritual health. He then outlines the steps to lasting healing, including grieving what was lost, learning to balance emotions with intentionality, regaining a positive relationship with one's own body and mind, and coming to an understanding of God not as a frightening authority figure like the abuser or an accusing judge, but as a loving creator, redeemer, and friend.

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2017

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 1 out of 5]

apparently the only way to heal is through Jesus. not my thing.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt this was a fascinating book. It had some very good info in it, detailing what abuse was. It talked about how sometimes things we don't even recognize as abuse can be that way, whether we mean them to be or not in our culture today. Lack of child restraints in a car for example, not getting medical care or help for children with learning disabilities, things that even 20-30 years ago was more commonplace, but now realizing that this is not an okay thing and is legally on a neglect scale.

The one key thing that I felt should been concentrated on a bit more, was delving into that even though you have been abused, you do not have to be an abuser. I felt that it instead highlighted some of the greatest fears that childhood abuse victims have of becoming their abuser. It was good to lay it out, but I felt this could have been a bit more key and clearly detailed.

The book was an easier read, despite it topic at hand, but clear and to the point.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I chose to review this book I wasn’t 100% set on what to expect. I mean I don’t typically pick up a self-help book for review, first; but secondly these type of books can go only two ways. Completely over the top and less than helpful or very thought provoking and life altering. Of course this book has to change it all up and fit in neither camp. It’s not life altering but it is very informative. It’s not over the top but it does make you think for a moment of two. I actually think that this is a book that all parents, caregivers, or anyone who has an authoritarian role in the life of a child; not just someone who has come through the other side of childhood abuse and is looking for sustenance and healing.

Broken into three distinct sections this book is a great reference point for anyone that works with children as well as survivors. Part one identifies the different types of abuse. Not only talking about emotional, physical, and sexual but also breaks in down further with specific and encompassing examples. I appreciate that the author details that while all are common at one time or another for every parent and every child having a few experiences does not create a pattern of abuse. No one is perfect and no childhood is perfect either. However, a persistent pattern of these experiences and/or even one very large event that has life-reaching impact. (Being yelled at once or twice vs a consistent pattern of yelling or in the case of sexual abuse one occurrence can alter a life forever.) The next section of the book details various and detailed ways that children cope with and react to the abuse that reaches into their own adulthood. Finally there is the section that deals with healing, including spiritual healing.

All the sections provide case studies, personal antidotes, and survivor stories. This book is not a replacement for therapy, where warranted, nor does it ‘cure’ a childhood. Written from a Christian perspective this book would be a great resource for someone who has already started the process of healing their own lives. I have to reiterate again as well that anyone who has role of authority of power in the life of a child should read this book. Not only to recognize our own patterns of interaction that could potentially be tweaked, but also to help better recognize our own interactions and pitfalls as we engage with this fragile and precious young lives.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of us out there have suffered either physical, emotional, sexual or more types of abuse at the hands of someone trusted with our care as children.

This book delves in to the subject of types of abuse and characteristics of said abuse as well as real examples used to emote how cruel an act of abuse is on a child and how harmful it can be long term.

We see how it can be helped with varying forms of therapy and how it can take more than one sort/attempt to help make progress and how many times flashbacks do occur and cause harm.

This is an extremely helpful book if you are having anything or have had anything happen to you as a child that is abuse as it could help you see what you need to do to progress or how much you have progressed. It's informative and honest, all you could ask for about this tender subject.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The content of this book was presented with clarity, compassion, and grace. It gave me a better understanding of those who have experienced abuse, as well as offering tools in walking with them towards healing. The first 7 chapters define and describe various types of abuse, and their effects on the whole person. The last 5 chapters address steps to healing each of those aspects of the whole person: emotional, cognitive, physical, relational, and spiritual.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope and Healing

I found this book to be full of hope and practical tools to assist with healing from childhood abuse. The many stories of adults who have been abused as children helped me feel that I am not alone and not at fault. I'm God's child first and foremost and His plan for my life is good. This book helped me remember this. Highly recommended.

[Jessie]

Clear, basic overview of childhood abuse. Good intro read for anyone working with children, people who have dealt with trauma, and even parents to give structure of what constitutes as abuse or mistreatment of children. Quick read and very very basic

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Healing the Scars of Childhood Abuse is definitely worth reading for those experience abuse as a child. I found some in it.

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful but would have liked it to dig deeper.

[colinmh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Religious

While some aspects of the book can be helpful, the religious overtones may nay be to everyone’s taste or desire.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Through and easy to read.