This book is the first direct account of incest-family mother. Six women relate their experiences in accounts that challenge the collusive mother model. They tell how they discovered the incest, why the secret was kept, how they responded to and explained events, and how they interpret the consequences for their daughters, husbands, families, and themselves.

" . . . an intellectually stimulating discussion of important theories and an enthrallingly personal reading experience." —Elizabeth L. Navarre\ " . . . the one book we've been waiting for. . . . The book succeeds admirably in exploring six women's stories with a great deal of respect." —Changes: An International Journal of Psychology and Psychotherapy " . . . poignant revelations . . . Johnson is able to paint an individualized portrait of each woman and avoids twisting their stories to fit some theory." —Publishers Weekly " . . . a gritty glimpse of a painful struggle, and a framework for rethinking our perspectives and prejudices." —The Women's Review of Books Janis Tyler Johnson has collected the stories of six mothers who relate, in their own words, their experiences as mothers of incest victims. Their accounts challenge the collusive, mother-blaming theory of incest families. Mothers tell how they discovered the incest secret, the ways they responded, and the meanings that incest held for themselves, their daughters, husbands, and families.

Mother-Daughter Incest: A Guide for Helping Professionals illuminates the rarely examined phenomenon and aftermath of mother-daughter incest, focusing on the victim's perception of and reaction to her experience. This unique book integrates psychological theory and practical interventions with the words of the survivors themselves. Their revealing and moving first-person testimonies keenly articulate daughters' reactions to sexual abuse at the hands of their mothers, their past and present relationships with their mothers, and their perceptions of the impact of their mothers' abuse on their lives.

Provide more effective services for the victims of this underreported, rarely investigated form of sexual abuse! Until recently, mother-child incest was considered to be virtually nonexistent. The majority of the sexual abuse literature focused on male-perpetrated abuse or father-daughter incest. Mother-Daughter Incest: A Guide for Helping

In chronicling the physical and spiritual steps she took to reclaim her life and peel away the layers of damage done by incest, Jenson has written a powerful narrative of one person’s healing journey. And though the subject matter is deeply serious, Jenson writes with her sense of humor firmly intact, reminding us that joy is possible in the face of great pain. Poignant, brave, and helpful, Healing My Life offers a much-needed testimony for anyone affected by or concerned about childhood sexual abuse. “Healing My Life is a story that is unique and personal in its detail, yet also universal and human in its impact. If we could raise even one generation without violence or shaming, we have no idea what might be possible.” —Gloria Steinem “What an accomplishment! Taking the raw pain of incest, Donna Jenson has offered the world a generous dose of hope and delivered a clear message to survivors: healing is possible. Everyone who has survived childhood sexual abuse is stronger knowing each other’s journey. By eloquently sharing hers, Donna reminds us of a simple truth: we can heal.” —Marilyn Vanderbur, Miss America 1958 who survived incest