Raising Myself: A Memoir of Neglect, Shame, and Growing Up Too Soon

A powerfully inspiring and unflinchingly honest story of how best-selling author and abuse recovery expert Beverly Engel made her way in the world-in spite of her mother’s neglect and constant criticism, being sexually abused at nine, and raped at twelve.

Beverly Engel is an internationally recognized psychotherapist and an acclaimed advocate for victims of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. She is the author of twenty-two self-help books, including four best-selling books on emotional abuse: The Emotionally Abused Woman, Encouragements for the Emotionally Abused Woman, The Emotionally Abusive Relationship, and Healing Your Emotional Self. Her latest book, It Wasn’t Your Fault: Freeing Yourself from the Shame of Childhood Abuse with the Power of Self-Compassion, came out in January of 2015. Many of her books have been chosen for various book clubs, including the One Spirit Book Club, Psychology Today book club, and Behavioral Sciences book club. Engel frequently lends her expertise to national television talk shows; she has appeared on Oprah, CNN, and Starting Over, and many other TV programs. She has a blog on the Psychology Today website, and regularly contributes to the Psychology Today magazine. Engel is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and has been practicing psychotherapy for thirty-five years.