Reach For The Rainbow

A Review by: Bea Sheftel

REACH FOR THE RAINBOW
Advanced Healing for Survivors of Sexual Abuse
Lynne D. Finney, J.D., M.S.W.
Survivor and Therapist

A Perigee Book 1992
ISBN# 0-399-51745-6

This book is for survivors, their loved ones, and their therapists. The author had been beating, raped, and tortured by her father who was a Hollywood screenwriter. This happend from age 4 to 8.

This book presents survivors' concerns and self-healing echniques. It takes an in-depth look at sensitive issues. Included are sections on cult abuse and multiple personality disorders. It touches on flashbacks and suicidal thoughts. And she goe on to explain how file suit against abusers.

Survivors are given valuable information on how and where to get help, how to select a therapist, and how to help themselves. The book is written with compassionate understanding.

The author honestly shows the major events in her own life, what she learned during her healing and how she found help. The author does not discount the pain survivors have endured, but she does offer a positive, sometimes overly optimistic, outlook towards a better future. She underwent a transformation from a depressed woman to one filled with joy and she offers her experience to help others.

In telling the story of the abuse she suffered, she admits to having nightmares into her thirties. This is something many survivors also experience. She also could not remember her childhood before age 11, but after that she remembers being filled with fear. And yet she came from a rather well off home with an artist for a mother. Her father was a well-known screenwriter, and author of several books. Their large home in Westwood Village was featured in the newspaper supplement. Later on the family moved to Brentwood, a neighborhood filled with movie stars. That's when her trauma started.

Now some of you may know who her father is. She gives this information: he won an Academy Award as a screenwriter for the movie Laura starring Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews. He also wrote Call Northside 777, an old Jimmy Stewart movie.

After her personal memories, she goes into the question and answer format for readers who want to know more abuse. She starts with the question, "How do I know my memories are true?" I am sure this on many survivors minds, especially with recent court reversals claiming the memories of certain survivors were false.

She takes the reader through all the questions they might ask include exactly what is abuse and details incest, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. And here is where I faced my own abuse bothy physical and emotional. To see it in print was somehow comforting. My brother, sister and I were subjected to constant criticism. Nothing we did was ever good enough for our father. And yet, how can this compare to what people suffer in sexual abuse. It is almost as if we do not have a right to complain, only this author gives us that right.

The author addreses the issue of painful memories. The desire to be healed is strong, and yet many people find that first step very difficult. It is a major leap to improve your life and go over the memories. She admits, "The idea of having to relive those terrible past events is frightening and abhorrent. You want it to be over once and for all." And yet she advises the reader that therapy is necessary and will speed the process of healing.

After going through all the explanations as to what abuse is, she spends time discussing various methods of counseling and therapy. She ends with self-help techniques towards achieving inner-peace.

An Appendix lists many places to get help. This is a very important. I highly recommend it to anyone dealing with their own, or another's abuse. The book is a good start towards healing.

reviewed by Bea Sheftel

Return To

The Library
This Month's Issue
Home