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Breaking Free
Help for survivors of child sexual abuse
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
19 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
About the author
Kay Toon
4 books2 followersKay began her career by qualifying with an honours degree in Computer Science in Leicester and worked for International Computers Limited as a computer programmer and systems engineer. Kay then achieved a post-graduate research degree at Bradford University (Master of Philosophy) for a computer simulation of the activity of cortical neurons (brain cells). She worked as a lecturer in the Psychology department at Leeds University; as well as lecturing for the University of Maryland in Yorkshire, Iceland and Crete.
Kay met Carolyn Ainscough at Leeds University in 1983 where they both trained as Clinical Psychologists, they then worked together in the N.H.S. in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, until Carolyn’s untimely death in 2000. In the late 1980’s they set up and developed a service for adults who had experienced childhood abuse. Over the years they trained thousands of professionals in how to work with adult victims of child sexual abuse throughout the U.K. and campaigned to increase awareness of child abuse.
They also co-authored “Breaking Free” and “The Breaking Free Workbook”.
Kay worked in the N.H.S. for over 20 years until retiring from the N.H.S. in 2007. She was a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Services Manager of a large Psychological Therapies Service for many years. Her N.H.S. clinical work included individual and group therapy with secondary care clients with the full range of psychological problems. Kay specialised in developing innovative therapeutic approaches and, over the years, built up expertise in dealing with trauma.
Kay has also presented papers at national and international conferences and has appeared in many newspaper articles, radio and television programmes on topics related to sexual abuse, trauma, other psychological problems and issues relating to psychology.
from kaytoon.co.uk
Kay's mobile apps can be downloaded from http://www.kaytoon.co.uk/pages/apps.htm
Kay met Carolyn Ainscough at Leeds University in 1983 where they both trained as Clinical Psychologists, they then worked together in the N.H.S. in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, until Carolyn’s untimely death in 2000. In the late 1980’s they set up and developed a service for adults who had experienced childhood abuse. Over the years they trained thousands of professionals in how to work with adult victims of child sexual abuse throughout the U.K. and campaigned to increase awareness of child abuse.
They also co-authored “Breaking Free” and “The Breaking Free Workbook”.
Kay worked in the N.H.S. for over 20 years until retiring from the N.H.S. in 2007. She was a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Services Manager of a large Psychological Therapies Service for many years. Her N.H.S. clinical work included individual and group therapy with secondary care clients with the full range of psychological problems. Kay specialised in developing innovative therapeutic approaches and, over the years, built up expertise in dealing with trauma.
Kay has also presented papers at national and international conferences and has appeared in many newspaper articles, radio and television programmes on topics related to sexual abuse, trauma, other psychological problems and issues relating to psychology.
from kaytoon.co.uk
Kay's mobile apps can be downloaded from http://www.kaytoon.co.uk/pages/apps.htm
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 19, 2017
I picked this up in my local library not expecting to be so impressed by it. In my professional life, I treat a number of adult survivors of child sexual abuse and this book has given me a really solid understanding of the complexity of the psychological processes and their long lasting effects into adulthood in the individuals affected. The repercussions of child sexual abuse are widespread and far-reaching individually and collectively and this deserves wider recognition in many professional fields, so I am delighted to have happened upon this book which so eloquently and simply delineates the issues involved.
On a person level, my mother's family of origin was severely affected by child sexual abuse and this book helped me to put this issue into its proper perspective and see more clearly just how deeply the damage has penetrated in terms of persistent systemic entanglements, mental illness and dysfunctional relating styles that persist to this day, some 40 -50 years after the abuse actually occurred.
The book is aimed at the survivors themselves and has many stories in their own words of how the abuse has affected their lives and their relationships, and how they came to rebuild their lives after such devastating abuses. As such it is not an easy read and is quite harrowing at times, but ultimately extremely positive and affirming.
On a person level, my mother's family of origin was severely affected by child sexual abuse and this book helped me to put this issue into its proper perspective and see more clearly just how deeply the damage has penetrated in terms of persistent systemic entanglements, mental illness and dysfunctional relating styles that persist to this day, some 40 -50 years after the abuse actually occurred.
The book is aimed at the survivors themselves and has many stories in their own words of how the abuse has affected their lives and their relationships, and how they came to rebuild their lives after such devastating abuses. As such it is not an easy read and is quite harrowing at times, but ultimately extremely positive and affirming.
December 22, 2025
It's a truly great book. A life-saver. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
May 1, 2015
Excellent book. Includes sections written by survivors of abuse which are easy to relate to and understand, also covers some theory/research into why it happens. A short book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews