About the Book and Author

Now Featured in the Patheos Book Club
Push Back the Dark:
Companioning Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
By Elizabeth M. Altmaier

About the Book

Adults in your church, small group, or other Christian organization are silently suffering the tragic consequences of having been sexually abused as children or youth. Why aren't they coming forward for help? Their reluctance may be related to wounds given by the faithful—religious people they trusted, who said things like "well, it wasn't rape" or "it's been thirty years—why is this such a big deal?" Such responses from people with religious authority deepen victims' need to shrink into anxiety, depression, and self-degradation.

This book offers you the tools needed to undertake caring ministry to adults suffering in the aftermath of childhood sexual abuse. Once you understand the scientific research on such topics as trauma memory, consequences of abuse, and forgiveness, you will appreciate how caring collaboration can create hope and healing. In these pages every reader will find helpful content that will take you from feeling out of your depth to knowing you are empowered to be an effective companion in God's transforming work in the lives of survivors of abuse.

About the Author

Elizabeth (Betsy) Altmaier (BA, Wheaton College; MA, PhD, Ohio State University) is a psychologist and Professor Emeritus, University of Iowa. As a researcher, therapist, and educator, Betsy was influenced by her own life difficulties, as she experienced childhood abuse. She has published extensively in psychology, with seven books and more than one hundred chapters and articles. Experiencing God's healing in her own life has motivated her work in this book—translating psychological research by way of a biblical worldview to inform practical ministry.