To Be An Anchor In The Storm: A Guide For Families And Friends Of Abused Women

To Be An Anchor in the Storm: A Guide for Families and Friends of Abused Women

A comprehensive education on domestic violence--and the tools to intervene in a way that helps, not hurts.To Be an Anchor in the Storm is the first hands-on guide for people who want to assist a friend or loved one in her struggle to escape domestic violence. The survivor of a batterer herself, Susan Brewster has counseled abused women for more than a decade. Now she weaves together lessons from her own life and many case histories, including the complete story of a woman called Jackie, as she supports her sister's attempts to leave an abusive husband.Brewster will teach you how to recognize the signs of abuse, handle your own negative feelings, become an effective advocate, deal with the batterer, and more. Her compassionate book will give you the understanding you need to give strength to women who are trying to break free.Amazon.com ReviewKnowing what to do or how to help a victim of domestic violence can be baffling. Natural urges, such as badmouthing the abuser or pressuring the victim to leave the abuser, can often backfire. Victims may pull away and alienate themselves from those who are trying to help. Author Susan Brewster was stalked and battered by an ex-boyfriend. As a result she studied to become a psychotherapist and has dedicated more than a decade of her life to counseling battered women and their families. Based on her experiences, she teaches readers how to recognize abuse, become effective advocates, and take on the difficult role of being anchors rather than rescuers.From Library JournalThe estimation that "four million women a year" are battered by their partners makes this unique guide regrettably necessary. Social worker Brewster, who has survived a batterer, aims to help those who would like to be "an anchor" to a battered woman. In contrast to a rescuer or a distancer, the anchor is a "healthy" supporter who believes the woman, takes her abuse seriously, remains neutral, respects and honors her decisions and feelings, and does not give advice. Writing in a clear, conversational style, Brewster aims to help the "anchor" with this daunting task. In addition, she provides five especially useful appendixes that address state-by-state resources, legal advocacy, counseling and professional help, signs of emotional illness, and signs of substance abuse and child neglect. Many books address the issue of battered women, but this is perhaps the first that is meant to help those who want to help. For all libraries.?Barbara O'Hara, Free Lib. of PhiladelphiaCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.From the Inside Flapive education on domestic violence--and the tools to intervene in a way that helps, not hurts.To Be an Anchor in the Storm is the first hands-on guide for people who want to assist a friend or loved one in her struggle to escape domestic violence. The survivor of a batterer herself, Susan Brewster has counseled abused women for more than a decade. Now she weaves together lessons from her own life and many case histories, including the complete story of a woman called Jackie, as she supports her sister's attempts to leave an abusive husband.Brewster will teach you how to recognize the signs of abuse, handle your own negative feelings, become an effective advocate, deal with the batterer, and more. Her compassionate book will give you the understanding you need to give strength to women who are trying to break free.