Adult Children of Emotionally Abusive Families

“There are few forms of trauma more confusing than the kind that lives inside relationships meant to sustain us. In this deeply insightful book, Beverly Engel calls out the invisible architecture of emotionally abusive families–the denial, projection, scapegoating, gaslighting, and boundary violations that quietly organize a child’s inner world, the same toxic practices we see in families shaped by addiction, whether or not substances are present. Engel writes with rare clarity and compassion, stepping inside the psyche of the child who is trying to build a self within this disorienting hall of mirrors. She captures the code of silence, the shifting ground of reality in which a child learns to doubt their own perceptions. And she addresses sibling abuse and its impact, such an important and too often overlooked part of trauma-engendering parenting. Adult Children of Emotionally Abusive Parents is filled with down to earth wisdom and practical advice to help you start a new chapter of healing and repair so that you can leave your past in the past, where it belongs.” -Tian Dayton, PhD, creator of Relational Trauma Repair (RTR) and author of Growing Up with Addiction

“Beverly’s book feels like a warm hug of understanding, from her definition and validation of emotionally abusive experiences to exploring recovery from years of abuse. Her book is especially helpful in understanding the effects of growing up with parents who suffer from personality disorders or alcohol and drug dependence, the neglected topic of sibling abuse, as well as the overall short and long-term effects of growing up in an emotionally abusive family.” -Dr. Natalie Jones, PsyD, LPCC

“Adult Children of Emotionally Abusive Families is a compelling and thorough guide for healing from childhood abuse, not only from parents, but it also covers the hidden epidemic of sibling abuse.” -Darlene Lancer, LMFT, author of Dating, Loving and Leaving a Narcissist

Beverly Engel is an internationally recognized psychotherapist and expert on the subject of trauma. She has written numerous books on the related subjects of abuse, shame, and empowerment, including The Emotionally Abusive Relationship, Healing Your Emotional Self, and It Wasn’t Your Fault. She has a blog on Psychology Today entitled, “The Compassion Chronicles,” and her writing has been featured in publications including Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and The Los Angeles Times.

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