Customer Reviews
Very Helpful - By: Zadius Sky, 13 Jan 2008 
This book, consisting of 15 chapters & roughly 145 pages, is easy to read & well written, but difficult to get through. It was not difficultin a sense of reading it, but it was difficultin an emotional sense. This book has given me great insights & shocks to which it gave me a harsh glimpse into my past. It gave me a lot to absorb.
The strategies, the tables, the stories, & the recommendationsin this book are very helpful & encouraging for utilizationin one's life. For one to work through the fogs of hidden shame & guilt as well other negative aspects of one's false self, I would humbly recommend this book.
A Good One - By: M Barrow, 18 Apr 2005 
This is a great book for those who are struggling with self esteem issues & need a nudge into reconnecting with their inner self. It's undaunting form gives you the chance to see how you behavein society & whether you want that to change or not. The psychology is easy to grasp with helpful case studies that helped me to relate it to my own life. My GP recommened the book & it's been the best kick startin tackling depression.
Good for consolidation, but has its drawbacks - By: , 24 Jun 2002 
In this text Dr. Whitfield does not merely restrict himself to a discussion of the devastating effects of both sexual or physical abuse. On the contrary, he recognises, that whilst different, the aftermath of both emotional & spiritual abuse can be just as damagingin the way it impedes our healthy development. This acknowledgement will be a real welcome among those of us who have suffered at the hands of emotional or spiritual abuse.
His prose is clear & not overtly technical. The case studies featured also help to illuminate the subject areas covered & enable the reader to relate to the experiences of others.
However, I do find that the areas coveredin this book are limited. As the title suggests, we are dealing with the healing of the child within. Yet despite this there are no practical exercisesin which the reader can engagein to enable this healing to take place.
One text which does this marvellously is 'Rescuing the Inner Child' by Penny Parks (available from Amazon). Although this was primarily intended for victims of sexual abuse, emotional & physical abuse are covered & the process of healing that is given can be adapted for such types of abuse. I have found Parks' Inner Child Therapy the best thing I have come across for healing my child within. Usedin conjuntion with 'Rescuing the Inner Child' I think 'Healing the Child Within' will help consolidate the practical exercises.
Another very good book is 'Toxic Parents' by Dr.Susan Forward (Also available from Amazon) which also covers these three areas of abuse. Some practical exercises are included, but I would recommend this more for consolidation. The only drawback with this book is that it focuses on a conflict with the aggressors, whichin my opinion, is not necessary for emotional wellbeing as you can heal yourselfin other ways. However, this part of the book can be disregarded. The rest is very helpful.
I hope that you find this review useful. I am successfully working my way out of the pit & want to share my knowledge with others, who arein a similar situation. You may also decide to seek help from a counsellor/therapist whilst reading your way through these texts. I believe that this is the best way to go because churning up memories of the past can be extremely painful. Seeing a counsellor gives you the opportunity to explore your feelings & release your angerin a safe environment. Good Luck!
An uncomplicated & eclectic framework for self deveopment - By: , 23 Feb 2000 This rates along side 'The Road Less Travelled' by Scott-Peck. Uncomplicated, eclectic & more to the point blows away the idea that abuse & dysfunctional families are limited to the polarised views of extreem physical or sexual abuse. This book has structure, it provides an excellent framework for looking at ones' own behaviour & attitudes. Should the reader then recognise the desire to change, then there's help with that too.
MUST READ for spiritually abused adult children!!! - By: , 21 Jun 1999 Most books on disfunctional families assume alcoholism and/or drug abuse. There isn't much literature that addresses the problem of family disfunction recognising that symptoms/causes can manifestin other ways.
The parental conditions he lists that tend to stifle the child within are: chemical dependence; co-dependence; chronic mental illness or disabling physical illness; extreme rigidity, punitiveness, judgementalness, non-loving, perfectionism, or inadequacy; child abuse--physical, sexual, mental-emotional and/or spiritual; denial of feelings of reality.
Spiritually abused adult children, even if no physical abuse ever occurredin conjunction, tend to have experienced co-dependence (boundaries are crossed & roles are mixed upin unhealthy ways), rigidity, judgementalness, perfectionism, & denial of feelings of reality,in addition to the description he gives for mental/emotional/spiritual abuse.
He develops heirarchical list of 20 human needs, drawing from Maslov, Miller, Weil, & Glasser, & develops the concept thatin order for a human being to be whole & healthy & ready to follow a truly spiritual path, these needs must first be met,in order of most basic to highest potential. Most basic, of course, survival & safety; highest potential is unconditional love (including connection with a Higher Power.)
He explains the cycle of shame & low self esteem, & maps how healthy boundaries are crossed by allin a shame based family.
He describes the role of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), & it's treatment.
He then describes the steps of healing; no step can be skippedin order to reach true "Genesis (Spirituality)":
Begin to deal with core issues, identify & re-experience our feelings, go through the process of grieving, integrating, & finally, spirituality.
If you have experienced spiritual abusein your life (as a child or adult), or aren't sure whether you have, but relate to these issues, then this book is a MUST READ!!!!
