Abstract

Counselling Skills for Working with Trauma is a practical, introductory guide to counselling survivors of child abuse, neglect, rape, sexual violence, sexual trafficking, religious sexual abuse, and domestic abuse.

Written in an accessible style, it provides a comprehensive introduction to complex trauma accompanied by advice on how to create a safe environment in which survivors can learn the skills to restore control over trauma symptoms, to aid healing and post traumatic growth. The book covers all of the key principles including: understanding the role of dissociation in complex trauma; the role of attachment; managing flashbacks, panic attacks, nightmares and dissociation; responding to shame and guilt; managing relationships; and the impact of working with complex trauma. It explores how practitioners can work more effectively with trauma, and offers techniques and skills which can easily be integrated into different therapeutic models.

Featuring highlighted top tips, common pitfalls and a range of exercises, this is an essential guide for all professionals working with child and adult survivors of trauma.

This book has a great deal to offer to all counsellors and psychotherapists, as well as other practitioners who work with people who have experienced trauma within the context of close relationships. The great strength of this book is that it considers all aspects of this area of therapy in an informed, accessible, caring and comprehensive manner. It represents an exceptional contribution to the literature and will become essential reading for both trainees and experienced practitioners. A welcome example of how knowledge and skills from a range of medical, social and psychotherapeutic approaches can be integrated into a coherent model of practice.
John McLeod, Emeritus Professor of Counselling, University of Abertay, UK; Professor of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
Christiane Sanderson is a lecturer in Psychology at the University of Roehampton, and Birkbeck College, University of London. With 25 years' experience working in child sexual abuse interpersonal trauma and domestic abuse (and trauma), she has run consultancy and training for parents, teachers, social workers, nurses, (therapists), counsellors, solicitors, the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Committee, the Methodist Church, the Metropolitan Police Service and the Refugee Council. She is author of Counselling Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, 3rd edition, Counselling Survivors of Domestic Abuse, The Seduction of Children: Empowering Parents and Teachers to Protect Children from Child Sexual Abuse, and Introduction to Counselling Survivors of Interpersonal Trauma, also published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She has also written The Warrior Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Sexual Violence and The Spirit Within: A One in Four Handbook to Aid Recovery from Religious Sexual Abuse Across All Faiths for the charity One in Four.
This book is fabulous... the absolute best I have ever read on the trauma associated with sex abuse. Written in clear language, it takes the understanding of the problem and the path to recovery to a new level, revealing the devastating nature of traumatic effects of abuse, but also providing a source of concrete hope through a realistic and attainable treatment and recovery program. The section on understanding complex trauma is a major gem in itself, and should be required reading for anyone involved in sex abuse at any level.
Thomas Doyle, J.C.D., C.A.D.C, a Canon lawyer and outspoken advocate for clergy-abuse victims, USA