Overcome shame and stigma; and bring a newly felt sense of safety, awareness, and life to your body. If you’ve experienced rape, sexual abuse, molestation, or sexual trauma, you may feel as if you’ve lost your sense of self. You may have difficulty setting boundaries or building satisfying sexual relationships. Sometimes, you may even feel like your body isn’t your own. You aren’t alone. The scars of sexual trauma exist not only in the mind, but also in the body. And in order to heal, build resilience, and discover a sense of hope, you must address both. Drawing on the powerful mind-body techniques of somatic therapy, The Healing Sexual Trauma Workbook is a step-by-step guide to overcoming the psychological effects of sexual trauma, and increasing positive body awareness and vitality. You’ll find tools to help you create an internal sense of safety and become more embodied and present. You’ll also discover ways to establish boundaries; move beyond intense feelings like shame, fear, and guilt; and deal effectively with triggers. Finally, you’ll learn how to cultivate self-compassion and the confidence needed to live your best life. What happened to you isn’t your fault, and it doesn’t define you. With the right tools, you can live a full and satisfying life beyond sexual trauma. This workbook will help guide you, every step of the way.
Reviews
"Erika Shershun has managed to create an invaluable handbook for the many courageous survivors of sexual trauma who are working hard to find their way back to a life of normalcy. What is particularly notable about this, among so many others, is that Shershun knows the territory directly, having found a way to access her own considerable gifts of healing both herself and others. She provides a clear path toward finding one's way."—Don Hanlon Johnson, PhD, professor of somatics in the School of Consciousness and Transformation at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS); and author and editor of several books, including Bone, Breath, and Gesture and Body, Spirit, and Democracy
"In this vital and beautiful workbook, Erika Shershun guides us through the process of understanding our sexual trauma, and ultimately working toward a place of thriving. What really emerges for me from these exercises is that she is equipping survivors with the tools and processes that embolden us to move beyond surviving to flourishing. Erika is inviting survivors on a powerful journey of transformation—and I'm grateful to her for entrusting survivors to be the drivers of that process."—JoEllen Chernow, cofounder and codirector of Survivors Know
"Erika Shershun has written a much-needed, empowering resource for sexual assault survivors. Her Healing Sexual Trauma Workbook explains how trauma impacts the body, mind, and soul. It provides a comprehensive array of worksheets, body-based exercises, and support tools for recovery. It addresses concerns common to survivors that are often overlooked in treatment. And it compassionately offers the guidance, hope, and support that all survivors of sexual assault need and deserve."—Susanne Babbel, PhD, MFT, author of Heal the Body, Heal the Mind; and blogger for www.psychologytoday.com