Victims of sexual assault experience their trauma in different ways, and often one path to recovery and healing is right for one person, but not right for another. While there are some general mental health effects of sexual violence, this book outlines and describes the impact of particular types of sexual violation. Whether the survivor has experienced childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault during adulthood, marital rape, sexual harassment, sex trafficking, or sexual violence within the military, they will find aspects of her experience in these pages. Once survivors understand the ways in which they have been affected, they are introduced to various pathways to surviving sexual violence and moving forward. The chapters provide case examples and specific activities which give a fuller description of the ways survivors can make use of the particular approaches, which include mind-body practices, counseling, group therapies, self-defense training, and others. Anyone who has been a victim of sexual violence, or knows and cares about someone who has, will find relief in these pages, which offer practical approaches to finding balance and healing.

This book describes the real-life journeys of women psychotherapists: why each woman chose this profession and what she learned about others and most importantly, about herself in this choice. Most critically, these women now share how they have integrated this wisdom into their everyday lives. While psychotherapists may also be authors, few write books about their journeys in the profession. Women Psychotherapists: Journeys in Healing is one of those rare books. Each contributor invites her readers onto the road traveled by the woman who listens to others needing her help and guides them into living a more joyous, successful life, even as she moves towards greater fulfillment in her own life."

Race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, migration status, religion, and numerous other cultural factors play important roles in recovery from traumatic events. Survivors of abuse, dislocation, disease, racism and other forms of trauma, however, are often treated only as individuals rather than as people with diverse beliefs and cultural affiliations. Thema Bryant-Davis examines the cultural issues that health-care professionals need to consider in caring for trauma survivors. She gives specific examples drawn in part from her own work as a clinician, and she describes activities that can help trauma victims not only survive, but also thrive and grow.

Race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, migration status, religion and many other cultural factors play an important role in recovery from a traumatic event. Most conventional attempts to help people recover from trauma do not anticipate or address these factors. Here, a psychologist describes how to recognize the cultural issues that need to be considered for healing. The author offers vignettes illustrating these issues, as well as activities for traumatized people to regain their sense of self-esteem, safety, strength and calm. Each chapter offers activities to aid recovery - from writing a journal, movement, music and spirituality to activism and social support.

This collection of essays considers the role of spirituality and religion in the lives of American women from various ethnic backgrounds, showing how faith empowers those in populations often marginalized in the United States. Religion and spirituality are sources of strength and resilience for many women, particularly ethnically diverse women. This thought-provoking text examines this psychological trend, exploring the specific ways in which women from diverse backgrounds have benefited from their faith traditions, the various spiritual pathways they have chosen, and the impact of those choices on their lives. Essays in this informative compilation show how women from African American, Latina, American Indian, Asian American, and Caucasian backgrounds recover from difficulties and traumas with the help of their faith. Contributors consider why women are more likely to endorse religious engagement than men; why ethnically marginalized women tap into spirituality for comfort more than any other population; and why many believers embrace religion as a coping mechanism throughout their lives-from adolescence to older adulthood. The work suggests ways for counselors, leaders, and religious figures to utilize this knowledge to bolster the well-being of those they serve. Compares commonalities and differences across cultures Features many different religions including folk practices, Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, and Santeria Offers a multi-disciplinary perspective through coverage of cultural studies, psychology, and women's issues Includes personal vignettes to demonstrate the power of faith and religion

This book describes psychotherapeutic strategies for treating adolescent girls of color. It provides clinicians with a framework for offering culturally congruent care from a multicultural, feminist, strengths-based perspective, and helps mental health professionals to better understand the contextual lives and developmental pathways of adolescent girls of color. Chapters bridge various bodies of literature on psychotherapy with adolescent girls, with an emphasis on the intersectional cultural context in which the girls live.