posted in Marriage and Family, Sex and Sexuality, Spiritual Wellness keywords Sex and Sexuality, Marriage and Family, Spiritual Wellness, book, review:, Shattered, Vows, (By, Debra, Laaser)

No one likes to talk about sexual betrayal.
Let me rephrase that. No one likes to talk about sexual betrayal when it happens to him or her. Not long ago, Debra Laaser experienced a wife’s worst nightmare. And today, she is ready to tell her story.
And a well-told story it is, written with clarity and eloquence surprising for a first time solo-author. But this work is neither a biography, nor a collection of Deb Laaser’s memoirs; it is a survivor’s guide for the sexually betrayed.
With exercises throughout, the book over-delivers. There are illustrations, charts, figures, and interactive forms. There are lists of useful web pages, and descriptions of relevant support groups. There is a depression self-assessment tool, and a “thinking it over” section at the end of each chapter lists 4-5 reflective questions for the reader.
For readers seeking “how-to” knowledge, Debra answers a plethora of questions including:
How quickly should I forgive?
In whom should I confide?
What do I tell the kids?
Should I be sexual with my spouse?
It is as if Debra walks side-by-side with the reader, showing her how to understand, feel, respond, grieve, trust, not trust, accept help, gain control, heal, forgive, and rebuild. Even with a short glance, the reader can’t help but take away something useful.
I have already recommended this book to a client.
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*Debora previously co-authored Open Hearts with her husband, Mark Laaser.

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  Anthony J. Centore, Ph.D. has authored numerous book chapters, articles, and is a columnist for Christian Counseling Today magazine. Anthony is author of The Clinical Training Guide for Online Counseling and Telephone Counseling. Anthony is Director of www.eCounseling.com and practices counseling in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts (See www.ThriveBoston.com).