Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy

by Christine A. Courtois

Book Overview

Incest is not a rare aberrant happening, but a common childhood experience for a substantial minority of children. Since incest is generally hidden and denied, the victims are left to cope with their reactions in an atmosphere that contradicts their reality. Yet all incest is not the same; for instance, one-time fondling by an uncle has different effects from rapes repeated over many years by a stepfather. The book describes these variations and the...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393700518
• ISBN13: 9780393700510
• Release Date: June 1988
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 396 Pages
• Weight: 1.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A must read for clinicians and survivors

Thankfully, this book exists. It is a must read for all clinicians who wish to be of assistance to their clients who are struggling to become "survivors" of such a horrible wound. It is critical for us therapists to open our hearts and minds...the numbers are too staggering to go unrecognized. I thank this particular author and others who dare to print what has been in the closet for all too long. This is indeed - a great help for all of us in the field of assisting those in need. E. Kelly, L.M.F.T.

From the Publisher

"Increasing numbers of people, primarily women, who were abused incestuously as children are now seeking therapy for problems related to their abuse. This book provides the special knowledge and clinical guidelines that therapists need to help them. "As documented here both by statistics and by the survivors' own voices, incest is unfortunately not a rare aberrant happening but a common childhood experience of a substantial minority of all children. Since incest is generally hidden and denied, the victims are left to cope with their reactions in an atmosphere that contradicts the reality of their experience. "All incest is not the same. In the first section, Christine A. Courtois provides a general introduction to incest by category, type, characteristics, and family and individual dynamics. Such knowledge is essential for therapists hoping to understand the unique aspects of their clients' incest experiences. "The symptoms, short-term aftereffects, and long-term secondary elaborations of incest are next examined from four perspectives: traumatic stress or victimization theory, developmental theory, feminist theory, and loss theory. Courtois's sensitive discussion of the diagnostic process shows how multiple presenting concerns may alert the clinician to incest in the client's past. "The final section describes the salient issues and strategies of incest therapy, which may involve a combination of individual, group, couples, or family therapy. Here, as elsewhere in the book, case vignettes illustrate the therapeutic process."

Comprehensive and Sensitive

In the first chapter of "Healing the Incest Wound" Christine Courtois wrote a description of incest portraying the experience through the eyes of a child victim. The description was an unbelievably accurate composite account of the emotional experience of incest. And particularly the part about the child attempting to hide at night (I did that also). I found it extremely helpful that Christine discusses the different kinds of incest perpetrated by fathers, stepfathers, quasi-relatives (a person who takes on the parenting role by living situation/emotional bond, but is not related by blood or legal contract. As was the case with me.), and other members of the nuclear family (mothers, siblings), or extended family (uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc). In her discussions of the different kinds of incest she also addresses the types of offenders. For example: symbiotic fathers, rationalizers or tyrants. Also psychopathic-sociopathic personality types are discussed, including pedophiles with sociopathic tendencies (which comprise approximately only 3% of incest offenders). There are also incest offenders that are pedophiliac type or the culture-permissive incestuous father. In addition to the types of incest offenders she also discusses the elements of the abuse such as use of force, coercion, violence, duration/frequency, age of victim, age/gender of perpetrator, types of sexual behavior/progression over time, peer incest and multiple incest. Christine Courtois also discusses the effect incest has on other siblings who aren't sexually abused, witness the abuse, or are unconsciously effected by the incest. The rest of the book focuses on the initial and long-term aftereffects at the different ages of growth and development and into adulthood, as well as therapy types and options for treatment (which is useful to both survivors and practitioners). There is also an extremely helpful section on reporting past and current abuse to child protective services (to protect children who are currently being abused, or from being abused in the future).

Comprehensive and Sensitive

In the first chapter of "Healing the Incest Wound" Christine Courtois wrote a description of incest portraying the experience through the eyes of a child victim. The description was an unbelievably accurate composite account of the emotional experience of incest. I found it extremely helpful that Christine discusses the different kinds of incest perpetrated by fathers, stepfathers, quasi-relatives (a person who takes on the parenting role by living situation/emotional bond, but is not related by blood or legal contract. As was the case with me.), and other members of the nuclear family (mothers, siblings), or extended family (uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc). In her discussions of the different kinds of incest she also addresses the types of offenders. For example: symbiotic fathers, rationalizers or tyrants. Also psychopathic-sociopathic personality types are discussed, including pedophiles with sociopathic tendencies (which comprise approximately only 3% of incest offenders). I found her description of the sociopathic offender to be an accurate description of the man who was a stepfather to me in my childhood. There are also incest offenders that are pedophiliac type or the culture-permissive incestuous father. In addition to the types of incest offenders she also discusses the elements of the abuse such as use of force, coercion, violence, duration/frequency, age of victim, age/gender of perpetrator, types of sexual behavior/progression over time, peer incest and multiple incest. This is the first book I have read that clearly addresses the unique effects of abuse by multiple offenders. Christine Courtois also discusses the effect incest has on other siblings who aren't sexually abused, witness the abuse, or are unconsciously effected by the incest. The rest of the book focuses on the initial and long-term aftereffects at the different ages of growth and development and into adulthood, as well as therapy types and options for treatment (which is useful to both survivors and practitioners). There is also an extremely helpful section on reporting past and current abuse to child protective services (to protect children who are currently being abused, or from being abused in the future). As another reviewer mentioned, this is one of the most up-to-date books that provides a comprehensive understanding of the many different forms of incest, without sensationalism or hunting for memories. I highly recommend it to survivors and practitioners.

christine courtois is THE international sex abuse expert

Christine Courtois is a gifted and highly brilliant writer AND speaker. Her books are highly truthful and revealing about sexual abuse and exploitation of children and adolescents. She also writes about the resulting psychiatric illnesses, particularly, in the worst possible of all cases, Multiple Personality Disorder, with extreme compassion, Knowledge and sensitivity. Whe writes about the most unpleasant and disgusting subject Earth has to offer with intelligence, good taste and limitless compassion. She is to be COMMENDED for her exceptional work.