Overview

Typically, a sense of shame becomes deeply rooted in the soul and psyche of those sexually abused as children. It is a toxic residue that is completely misplaced because it belongs to the perpetrator. Like a cancer, inappropriate shame can be undetected, slowly poisoning the individual from the inside, until one day it surfaces and can be hidden no more. Author John Glanville, a criminal psychologist, has worked with sexual offenders and their victims for more than a decade. His therapeutic "style"-confronting and honest-is reflected in his writing. In Healing the Shamed, Glanville presents raw and highly emotive dialogues between himself and his clients-from hard-hitting conversations with various types of child sexual offenders to deeply soulful journeys with victims as they confront their past and attempt to heal. The process Glanville uses is not only fascinating but inspiring. HEALING THE SHAMED explores in depth the five variables that are paramount to the process of healing: Acknowledgment-admission you are wounded Overcoming fear-having the courage to step into the unknown Acceptance-embracing the reality of the past and present Meaning-creating a personal significance Forgiveness-a personal choice In attempting to help "the shamed" reclaim the part of themselves that was stolen, Glanville also broaches controversial topics, including the societal double standard regarding female sexual offenders, the unalterable sexual attractions of pedophiles, the disinformation spread by the media and researchers, and the notion that a victim is not a "survivor" until they have confronted their past. HEALING THE SHAMED is a must read for victims, therapists, legal professionals, and anyone aspiring to work with sexual offenders.