Stories of mothers who survived sexual abuse as children reveal the struggles, challenges, and triumphs of this special group of women. Unraveling the veil of silence and capturing the experiences of mothers who were sexually abused as children, this book offers a first step in both supporting mothers and disrupting the cycle of intergenerational abuse that keeps these mothers isolated and alone in their mothering challenges and successes. Each story reveals the concerns, the needs, the difficulties, and the fears these mothers confront as they parent their children while struggling with their own past experiences. By examining the therapeutic needs and concerns of mothers who have survived child sexual abuse, Teresa Gil offers special insight into understanding and supporting these remarkable women. At issue is understanding what helps women who were sexually abused as children to survive and to parent effectively. Written for adult mothers who were victims of childhood sexual abuse, as well as for helping professionals, this book reveals the touching details of the pain and triumphs of mothering as a survivor and examines the protective factors that support resiliency and assist survivor/mothers to overcome challenges and to provide safe environments for the next generation.

This work is based on in-depth research with more than fifty women who have sexually abused children and therapy that has been carried out with several such women. It describes many aspects of their lives: childhood; own abuse histories; and adult relationships with partners and peers.

This courageous and powerful book is a first step in addressing the secrecy, distress, anger, and fear surrounding female sexual abuse of children. Refuting the rationales for our lack of attention to the problem and contradicting some commonly held beliefs about sexual abuse, it combines accounts from survivors with input from professionals working with both survivors and abusers. Part I presents contributions from professionals who discuss aspects of female sexual abuse ranging from impact and treatment issues for victims of childhood sexual abuse by female perpetrators to the paradox of women who sexually abuse children. The second part is devoted to survivors--it presents stories from both men and women, then provides self-help guidelines for both. The book concludes with a valuable section on resources which includes a review of the existing literature on female child molestation as well as a listing of pertinent books and help organizations. FEMALE SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN also addresses the controversial issue of current statistics that show that female sexual abuse is very rare and the question of whether it is being underreported due to fear from survivors that they will not be believed or supported. Regardless of the true magnitude of this problem, secrecy or denial about any aspect of child abuse must be avoided. Whatever future studies may show about this problem, it will not diminish this book's importance in taking the step of exploring this issue.

'This book will be enormously helpful to those who have endured sexual abuse' Nursing Times This classic book has helped many thousands of people to manage the impact that childhood sexual abuse has had on their lives. The positive and optimistic approach continues to empower survivors to break free from the past. Now with signficantly updated resource and further help sections, this latest edition by clinical psychologist Kay Toon acknowledges the types of abuse that have come to light more recently, such as street exploitation, and abuse by celebrities, politicians and football coaches, as well as the use of digital technology to groom children and young people. Breaking Free is regularly recommended by counsellors, by media agony aunts and psychotherapists. A Department of Health project provided copies of Breaking Free and the Breaking Free Workbook to NHS Mental Health Provider Trusts. It is ideal both for those seeking therapeutic support and for those providing such support. 'The voice of the cowed, betrayed and helpless sexually abused child speaks powerfully throughout this book.' British Journal of Psychiatry 'The way the book instils hope is inspiring' Journal of Social Work Practice

The Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse Workbook guides readers through a series of exercises, charts, and checklists aimed at recognizing, understanding, and working on the problems resulting from childhood sexual abuse. The exercises are divided into four parts: Understanding Your Present Problems and Keeping Safe; Guilt and Self-Blame; Feelings about Yourself and Others; and Looking to the Future.

Until recently the topic of female sex offenders remained under-researched. This book provides a comprehensive overview of female sex offenders who commit sexual offences against children and adolescents. It also examines the behaviour of these women and the after effects on both the offender and victim .