With the Phoenix Rising

The devastating effects of childhood sexual abuse have been widely chronicled, validating the difficulty with which many survivors struggle. Often overlooked are the millions of women who have overcome early trauma to lead successful, happy lives. Why do these women-whom we might otherwise have expected to fail-have such tremAndous strength and resilience? This question is at the heart of With the Phoenix Rising as it paints a moving and optimistic portrait of ten women who have overcome the trauma of childhood sexual abuse and shows how their resilient success can be encouraged in others who have suffered similar traumas.

Preface vii Part I: Setting the Stage 1 Resiliency 3 2 The Women’s Stories 23 Part II: Safe Havens, Important Relationships 3 School and Work 49 4 Intimate Relationships 69 5 Relationships with Children 79 6 Relationships Outside the Family 95 Part III: Processes and Strategies for Developing Resiliency 7 The Role of Psychotherapy 113 8 The Management of Feelings 137 9 The Importance of Self-Care 171 10 Making Sense of the Abuse 189 Part IV: A Lifelong Process 11 Revisiting the Participants 215 Appendix: Research Methodology 239 References 243 About the Authors 249 Index 253