Resources
There are a wealth of resources for survivors, as well as their families, friends and partners. Looking at websites or reading books on sexual abuse can help us understand that we’re not alone and that there is hope. It can also help connect people who otherwise feel isolated and alone.
If you are a service provider and would like to be added in our list, please contact us so we can learn more about you and your offering.
Online Resources
Online Peer Support for Survivors of Sexual Assault
A Practical Guide for Understanding Peer Support for Survivors of Sexual Violence
Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence has developed a series of 10 sexual abuse booklets that are accessible online. They include:
- Sexual Abuse What Happens When You Tell – a Guide for Children & Parents
- Sexual Abuse Counselling – A Guide for Parents and Children
- When Girls Have Been Sexually Abused – A Guide for Young Girls
- When Boys Have Been Sexually Abused – A Guide for Young Boys
- When Teenage Girls Have Been Sexually Abused – A Guide for Teenagers
- When Teenage Boys Have Been Sexually Abused – A Guide for Teenagers
- When Men Have Been Sexually Abused – A Guide for Men
- When Parents Act Out Sexually – A Guide for Parents and Teachers
- Sibling Sexual Abuse – A Guide for Parents
- When Your Partner Was Sexually Abused as a Child – A Guide for Partners
Also Health Canada’s 2001 Guidebook on Vicarious Trauma: Recommended Solutions for Anti-Violence Workers can be downloaded from the Public Health Agency of Canada web site through a keyword search at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
Books
For Survivors
Adams, Kenneth
Silently Seduced: When Parents Make Their Children Partners, Understanding Covert Incest
Ainscough, Carolyn
Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse: Practical Self-Help for Adults Who Were Sexually Abused as Children
Altman, Kerry Paul
The Wisdom of the Five Messengers: Learning to Follow the Guidance of Feelings (Anger, Sadness, Fear, Happiness, Love)
Bass, Ellen & Laura Davis
Beginning to Heal: a First Book for Men and Women Who Were Sexually Abused as Children
Bass, Ellen & Laura Davis
The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Butler, Sandra
Conspiracy of Silence: The Trauma of Incest
Bradshaw, John
Healing the Shame that Binds You
Daugherty, Lynn
Why Me? Help for Victims of Child Sexual Abuse (Even if they are Adults Now)
Egeberg, Gary & Wayne Raiter
The Forgiveness Myth: How to Heal Your Hurts, Move on and be Happy Again When you Can’t or Won’t Forgive
Engel, Beverly
Right to Innocence: Healing the Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Engel, Beverly
Breaking the Cycle of Abuse: How to Move Beyond Your Past to Create an Abuse-Free
Enns, Gren & Jan Black
It’s Not OK Anymore: Your Personal Guide to Ending Abuse, Taking Charge and Loving Yourself
Hay, Louise
You Can Heal Your Life
Levine, Peter
Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body
Levine, Peter
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma: The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences
Maltz, Wendy
The Sexual Healing Journey: A Guide For Survivors Of Sexual Abuse
Miller, Alice
Free From Lies: Discovering Your True Needs
Miller, Alice
The Body Never Lies: the Lingering Effects of Cruel Parenting
Pennebaker, James
Writing to Heal: A Guided Journal for Recovering from Trauma and Emotional Upheaval
Rauch, Mikele
Healing the Soul After Religious Abuse: The Dark Heaven of Recovery
Rogers, Annie
The Unsayable: the Hidden Language of Trauma
Romo, Jaime
Healing the Sexually Abused Heart: A Workbook for Survivors, Thrivers and Supporters
Rosenbloom, Dena, Mary Beth Williams & Barbara E. Watkins
Life After Trauma: A Workbook for Healing
Salter, Anna
Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists and Other Sex Offenders: Who They Are, How They Operate, and How We Can Protect Ourselves and Our Children
Wiehe, V
The Brother-Sister Hurt: Recognizing the Effects of Sibling Abuse
For Female Survivors
Davis, Laura & Ellen Bass
The Courage to Heal: a Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
Levenkron, Steven
Stolen Tomorrows: Understanding and Treating Women’s Childhood Sexual Abuse
Lloyd, Rachel
Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale
Simkin, Penny & Phyllis Klaus
When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women
Sperlich, Mickey & Julie Seng
Survivor Moms: Women’s Stories of Birthing, Mothering and Healing after Sexual Abuse
For Male Survivors
Ackerman, Robert
Silent Sons
Angelica, Jade Christine
We Are Not Alone: A Teenage Boy’s Personal Account of Child Sexual Abuse from Disclosure through Prosecution and Treatment
Bass, Ellen & Laura Davis
Beginning to Heal: A First Book for Men and Women Who Were Sexually Abused
Fradkin, Howard
Joining Forces: Empowering Male Survivors to Thrive
Grubman-Black, Stephen
Broken Boys/Mending Men: Recovery from Childhood Sexual Abuse
Henton, D., and McCann, D
Boys Don’t Cry: The Struggle for Justice and Healing In Canada’s Biggest Sex Abuse Scandal
Hunter, Mic
Abused Boys: The Neglected Victims of Sexual Abuse
King, Neal
Speaking Our Truth: Voices of Courage and Healing for Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Kuhn, Jill
In Cabin Six: An Anthology of Poetry by Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse
La Valle, John
Everything You Need to Know When You Are the Male Survivor of Rape or Sexual Assault
Lew, Mike
Victims No Longer: The Classic Guide for Men Recovering from Sexual Child Abuse
O’Brien, Dennis
Understanding Male Sexual Abuse: Why Male Victims Remain Silent
Price, David
Altar Boy, Altered Life: A True Story of Sexual Abuse
Sanders, Timothy
Male Survivors: 12-Step Recovery Program for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Satullo, Jane & Russell Bradway
It Happens to Boys Too
Wilken, Tom
Rebuilding Your House of Self-Respect: Men Recovering in Group from Childhood Sexual Abuse
Andy Fisher and Rick Goodwin
Men and Healing: Theory, Research, and Practice in Working With Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
For Families
Attwood, Tony
Exploring Feelings: Anger: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to Manage Anger
Brohl, Kathryn
Working with Traumatized Children: A Handbook for Healing
Browne, Marie, with Browne, Marlene
If the Man You Love Was Abused
Carman, Rebecca
Helping Kids Heal: 75 Activities to Help Children Recover from Trauma and Loss
Carranza, Christopher & Jane Rogers Dill
Banishing Night Terrors and Nightmares: A Breakthrough Program to Heal the Traumas That Shatter Peaceful Sleep
Feuereisen, Patti
Invisible Girls: the Truth About Sexual Abuse
Hansen, Diane
Those are MY Private Parts
Levine, Peter & Maggie Kline
Trauma Through a Child’s Eyes: Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing
Manka, Lynne
Good Bye Ouchies and Grouchies, Hello Happy Feelings: EFT for Kids of All Ages
McEvoy, Alan, Brookings, Jeff, and Rollo, Debbie, Eds
If He Is Raped: A Guidebook for Parents, Mates, and Friends
Ostis, Constance
What’s Happening in Our Family: Understanding Sexual Abuse Through Metaphors
Perry, Bruce & Maia Szalavitz
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook – What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing
Preble, John & A. Nicholas Groth
Male Victims of Same–Sex Abuse: Addressing Their Sexual Response
Rothschild, Babette
The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment
Schab, Lisa & Andy Myer
The Coping Skills Workbook
Scarce, M.
Male on Male Rape: The Hidden Toll of Stigma and Shame
Seligman, Martin
Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life
Sonkin, Daniel Jay (1998)
Wounded Boys Heroic Men: A Man’s Guide to Recovering from Child Abuse
Wasserman, Burt , Evan Bear & Euan Bear
Feeling Good Again: A Workbook for Children 6 and Up Who’ve Been Sexually Abused
For Partners of Survivors
Browne, Marie H.
If the Man You Love Was Abused: A Couple’s Guide to Healing
Cameron, Grant
What About Me? A Guide for Men Helping Female Partners Deal with Childhood Sexual Abuse
Davis, Laura
Allies in Healing
De Beixedon, Yvette
Lovers and Survivors: A Partner’s Guide to Living With and Loving a Sexual Abuse Survivor
Gil, Eliana
Outgrowing the Pain Together
Graber, Ken
Ghosts in the Bedroom
Hansen, Paul
Survivors and Partners: Healing the Relationships of Sexual Abuse Survivors
Levine, Robert Barry
When You Are the Partner of a Rape or Incest Survivor : A Workbook for You
Murphey, Cecil
When A Man you Love Was Abused
Springs, Janis
How Can I Forgive You? The Courage to Forgive, the Freedom Not To
Weiner Davis, Michelle
How to Change your Life and Everyone in It
PTSD
Courtois, Christine & Julian Ford, Eds
Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders: an Evidence-Based Guide
Herman, Judith
Trauma and Recovery
Levin, Peter A. Levine & Ann Frederick
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma
Matsakis, Aphrodite
I Can’t Get Over It: A Handbook for Trauma Survivors
Matsakis, Aphrodite & Leslie Tilley
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Complete Treatment Guide
Rothschild, Babette
The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment
Schachter, Candice L. Carol A. Stalker, Eli Teram, Gerri C. Lasiuk, Alanna Danilkewich
Handbook on Sensitive Practice for Healthcare Practitioners: Lessons from Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Williams, Mary Beth & Soili Poijula
The PTSD Workbook: Simple, Effective Techniques for Overcoming Traumatic Stress Symptoms
Vicarious Trauma, Trauma Stewardship & Self Care
Rothschild, Babette & Marjorie Rand
Help for the Helper: Self-Care Strategies for Managing Burnout and Stress
Van Dernoot Lipsky, Laura with Connie Burk
Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others
Berthold, S. Megan
Vicarious Trauma and Resilience
Carpel Miller, Vicki & Ellie Izzo
Second-Hand Shock: Surviving and Overcoming Vicarious Trauma
Emerson, David & Elizabeth Hopper
Overcoming Trauma Through Yoga: Reclaiming Your Body
Watts, Rod & David J de L. Horne, Eds
Coping with Trauma: The Victim and the Helper
Self-Harm
Conterio, Karen & Wendy Lader
Bodily Harm: The Breakthrough Healing Program for Self-injurers
Gratz, Kim & Alexander Chapman
Freedom from Self-Harm: Overcoming Self-Injury with Skills from DBT and Other Treatments
Lovett, Lyle
Small Wonders: Healing Childhood Trauma with EMDR
Miller, Dusty
Women Who Hurt Themselves: a Book of Hope and Understanding
Strong, Marilee
A Bright Red Scream: Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain
EMDR
Grand, David
Emotional Healing at Warp Speed: The Power of EMDR
Parnell, Laurel
EMDR: Transforming Trauma
Shapiro, Francine & Margot Silk Forrest
EMDR: The Breakthrough Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress and Trauma
Websites
For Survivors
Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime
Support for Partners of Survivors
Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Pandora’s Project: Resources to support for survivors, partners & family members
Survivors network of those abused by priests
Sylvia’s site (clergy sex abuse blog)
Resources for survivors of sexual abuse and sexual violence
Survivors of Abuse Recovering (SOAR)
Some basic information for survivors considering pursuing legal action against their abuser
Child sexual abuse: a mental health issue
Mental health resources and supports
Support and resources for self-harm and abuse
Interdisciplinary National Self-Injury in Youth Network Canada
For Male Survivors
Destination for men in Toronto
Overcoming sexual victimization of boys and men
Resources for survivors and those who care about them
Healing, outreach and peer empowerment
Resources for men including Cornwall Inquiry report
For Families of Survivors
Talking to kids about child sexual abuse
Resources for families with children in sports
Parenting a Child Who Has Been Sexually Abused: A Guide for Foster and Adoptive Parents
Recognizing Child Sexual Abuse
For mothers of sexually abused children
Resources on child sexual abuse and child trafficking
Self harm resources and reading
Caring for kids: what parents need to know about sexual abuse
For Partners of Survivors
Resources and support for partners of survivors of child sexual abuse
Support for partners of male survivors
Support for survivors and partners
