We Are Still Here
I feel very grateful that my work often enables me to meet amazing and inspirational people, many of them working in the field of psychology and most of them passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of their clients and others in society. These people educate and inspire me regularly, it is a gift to learn from other practitioners, sharing, guiding and supporting each other on our journeys.
Occasionally, a particular person will resonate very deeply with me, the psychologist Christiane Sanderson is one such person. Christiane is an eminent psychologist whose work on abuse is revered by those who share her passion for supporting others living with the consequences of hugely painful experiences.
I first met Christiane at a CPD event. Christiane was presenting her work on abuse and I found it inspirational. Our paths crossed several times as we attended seminars and work related conferences and we had conversations about our professional work. I was thrilled when she asked me to contribute to her recent book “We Are Still Here”. The book was written for practitioners working in this field and is a guide to understanding and working with the lived experiences of survivors of child sexual abuse.
Many of my clients have a history of CSA and come to me for support. Working with a survivor of abuse has many layers and my chapter in the book seeks to acknowledge and explain the brain’s way of dealing with trauma, the associated symptoms that arise in the body and the strategies for developing coping mechanisms. Accessing and then processing the traumatic memories can sometimes take many months; I always tell my clients that there is no rush. I will walk alongside them as they uncover, understand, feel, and eventually work towards healing.
Particularly prevalent in my content is the understanding that, without the knowledge of the psychological and associated physical response to trauma, there is little ability to tackle what arises. It is only through psychoeducation, normalising the body's response, that clients find the strength to challenge symptoms when they arise – allowing them to use self-awareness to counteract some of the emotional and physical responses that arise in the moment.
I highly recommend this book to practitioners who work in the field of trauma. It offers depth and insight, containing a range of techniques from highly skilled practitioners who have many years of experience working with abuse and the associated trauma.
The book is available to buy from major retailers, including online at Amazon. I would recommend reading it alongside “The Warrior Within”, by Christiane, another powerful book that presents as a handbook for therapists aiding recovery in CSA and violence.
Thank you Christiane Sanderson for being such a strength and an inspiration to so many.
Find out more about Christiane here: