The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole (Healing Complex PTSD) Paperback – January 10, 2017

cPTSD is a great concept, and term, to describe the impact of developmental trauma. The latter is itself a pretty new term and description (at least to the public). These two terms are vital to help replace a vast number of unhelpful expressions that people grew/grow up with. The shame and isolation created by families and society have been aided by the lack of the right LANGUAGE. These two concepts/terms CUT RIGHT THROUGH so much uncertainty and doubt.This book is THE best overview of what causes cPTSD and the current ways to ameliorate its impacts that I have seen. I have bought a half-dozen copies (so far) to give to family members. An enormous number of people would benefit from realizing that yes, their childhood was traumatic, they come from dysfunctional families, they are not alone, and the healing professions have greatly advanced understanding of ways to heal in various ways during the last 30 years. Parents can fail their children in a variety of ways, with or without substance abuse. Healing comes from understanding WHAT happened to you and what can be done about it. Healing does not require blame, only understanding. You are not disloyal or <insert some other way families/society try to get you to not dig into understanding>.I felt it was a great discussion, but is not a workbook. The bright, clean layout of the material makes it very readable!!!! It's not just a wall of words. Somehow that alone sets this book apart from many other books.My healing journey (based on knowledge, not just ideas that came to my head over the decades) began before this book was published. There is a yellow workbook from a fellowship for children of dysfunctional caregivers (also sold here) which asked me the right questions to unlock the deep and undeniable realization that "Hey, this is ME!" and "Wow, I had suppressed those memories!" (or did not understand that those events were part of a larger whole).This book is not all you need, by a long shot. But it can be vital to opening the eyes of those who need it. Buy it, give it away freely, help the healing and growth begin.

great item

I had this terrifying response as a child when i looked closely at my genitals and realized the damage done, that memory of pure fear haunted me, but i also felt it wouldn’t be taken seriously, and then page 30 completely validated the sensation memory, i later leaned that at the time it was common to be done without any pain management which likely encouraged the trauma. The book explained so much about how i felt during childhood, the anxiety, the denial, the anger and even got the health issues i have today right

This book is nicely laid out and well done. Unfortunately for me it can't fix anything because cptsd has ruined my life. Nothing can fix it and I will never feel better until I die. It doesn't work for people like me who are beyond repair.

Very helpful. Good supplement to my ongoing recovery from family abuse. I've been going through EMDR therapy and this book is helping me work through all my issues in such a caring way. I also highly recommend the book "CPTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" by Pete Walker.

This book is really amazing, highly recommend!

This book helped me go thru a lot and also taught me about EMDR therapy which i am trying next week. I suggest getting this book along with therapy to help fix your brain. Doing it yourself is great but having help from others is better.

Dr. Schwartz’s book offers a golden thread of hope to help guide individuals through healing from childhood trauma. Individuals struggling with C-PTSD often have spent much of their lives shrouded in fear, isolation, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. If I had to pick one key takeaway from this workbook, it would be validation. Through accessible education, affirmation, and gentle prompts toward self-exploration, Dr. Schwartz validates the often confusing and overwhelming experience of those that who have experienced childhood trauma and empowers them to take part in their healing. For the professional, Dr. Schwartz’s workbook could be considered a physical manifestation of the hope that we hold for our clients in their most troublesome of times. It is a guide that provides concrete information about the etiology, symptoms, possible barriers, and pathways to healing from C-PTSD. Dr. Schwartz’s warmth and compassion are evident in her writing, offering an extension of the healing relationship experienced in the therapist’s office.Aesthetically, this workbook is different from what you might expect from a self-help workbook. The cover has a lovely softness that invites you to hold it in your hands and just notice. The size of this workbook is smaller than the usual 8.5 x 11 where you might feel compelled to sit at a desk and “do your homework.” Rather, Dr. Schwartz’s book feels more like a book that you might curl up with on the couch, along with your favorite pen, to reflect at the end of chapters and note the passages that resonate with your experience. Each chapter begins with an image, a window into nature, a place of simple but profound beauty. Brief passages of wisdom and reassurance are easily accessible by just flipping through the book and noticing the orange text near your fingertips. Passages in blue text convey the real experiences of individuals healing from C-PTSD and thus, reminding the reader that they are not, in fact, alone.This workbook is empowering and a companion for individuals who have experienced childhood trauma, a comprehensive overview for those interested in understanding more about C-PTSD, and a valuable tool for professionals to share with their clients as they partner on the journey toward healing from C-PTSD.