". . .Naomi uses her own deeply creative and meaningful art work, alongside photos that are powerfully simple leaving spaces for the reader's own thoughts as well as many practical ideas for helping you to heal. . . . The amount of work that has gone into compiling this book from the author's own journey can be felt from the very first page where her openness and generosity influence every word; her realness and compassion walk hand in hand with her knowledge. . . .Each person will need to think carefully about how they would use this book, in the early days with their therapist while their intuition is rekindled and they learn to trust it? The way it is used will change continuously, reflecting the whole journey while helping to create and sustain a sense of integrated healing. . . This beautiful book is a pleasure to own, hold, read and just touch. Naomi gives hope through her sensitivity in sharing and offering." Read more... -Review for upcoming European Society of Trauma and Dissociation Newsletter by Melanie Goodwin, Director and Trainer, First Person Plural
"Naomi Ardea provides a brilliant and breathtaking journey into self-care and recovery after sexual abuse in The Art of Healing from Sexual Trauma. This book is a rich, vivid and trauma-informed exploration into self-care for the survivor. Its artistic and interactive content through paintings and photographs is soothing to the body, the mind and the spirit, while its personal insights lend a perceptive wisdom that only a survivor can impart. Merging helpful, evidence-based self-care tools with her own personal experiences, Ardea leaves no stone unturned, allowing the survivor to unravel every fact of the survivor's journey. From releasing self-blame to recognizing dissociation, survivors will savor the deep validation, understanding and knowledge they are sure to gain from these pages; the book is carefully written with the survivor's potential trigger points in mind. Ardea also provides space in the book for survivors to reflect on their own trauma by channeling it into art or words that arise while reading, which is a cathartic and moving exercise. I would highly recommend this book to all survivors of sexual trauma - it is by far the most comprehensive, inspirational and holistic guide I've come across on this topic." -Shahida Arabi, Bestselling Author of The Smart Girl's Guide to Self-Care and Becoming the Narcissist's Nightmare
". . .thoughtful, practical, and aesthetically pleasing. . .This book is significantly trauma-informed. . .discusses a diversity of treatment models and her inclusion of holistic healing methods may make this book more relevant for more diverse communities. . . .The strategies within the book are useful as a place to reference when an advocate needs creative ideas and is feeling stuck." Read more... -Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs
". . .her authentic, compassionate words, often poetic in nature, offer outlets for the ripples of pain forever present in survivors and bring hope and healing to those still learning to cope in trying times. . . .Acknowledging that help is needed might be the most challenging part of any situation. The Art of Healing from Sexual Trauma reaches out to those who feel lost. It is a thoughtful guide that victims, families, friends, and even allied health professionals can benefit from." Read more... -Review in Somatic Psychotherapy Today, Vol. 7 No. 1, Winter 2017 by Johnny Setzo and Nancy Eichborn
"The Art of Healing from Sexual Trauma is an insightful look at the various ways of healing through exploring one's own artistic soul and mind through various constructive tools. The purposeful trauma-informed layout of Naomi's book is both supportive and essential to the healing of survivors of sexual assault." -Leslie Razana, Volunteer & Public Outreach Coordinator, Bay Area Women Against Rape (BAWAR)
"A rich, informative, validating, supportive, authentic and heartfelt book with beautiful paintings that speak to the soul. I wish I had this book when I was going through my own recovery from sexual abuse by a trusted healthcare professional. One of the most terrifying experiences of traumatic healing is the overwhelming sense of isolation, and Naomi Ardea’s book stands out as offering victims a hand to hold along the way." -Linda R., artist and survivor of childhood and adult sexual abuse
“This book guides us into an extraordinary journey through the intimate and interior landscape of reclaiming the fullness of oneself after suffering sexual violation. Naomi Ardea's paintings, photographs and drawings along with her eloquent text offer a path of healing for individuals – as well as a map of potential illumination within the greater construct of our culture. Her true and compelling voice speaks to the restoration of the rights and dignity of all living beings.” -Carey Smith, director of the Center for Embodied Education and co-director of Body Therapy Institute
“Naomi Ardea has taken her own personal journey in healing from childhood and adult sexual trauma and presented it as an example and guide for other people suffering and recovering from the same kind of assault. She generously provides a template and toolkit others may follow.” -Ed Schmookler, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of trauma
“A courageous and deeply moving self-help memoir…Offering an extraordinary compendium of resources, Ardea shares what she’s used along the way both to soothe and protect her vulnerable self and also to release the pain and rage stored in her body and psyche. With the sensitivity of one who has been there, Ardea follows the most intense material with pages of beautiful photos from nature that offer peaceful, meditative resting places. This book is a gift for survivors on their own healing journey as well as for those who know and love someone working to heal such trauma.” –Robyn Posin, PhD, pyschologist and author of Go Only As Fast As Your Slowest Part Feels Safe To Go: Tales To Kindle Gentleness and Compassion For Our Exhausted Selves
“If you want to see into the heart and soul of a survivor’s healing journey, then this is must read. She gives you the creative tools to work in tandem with your therapist toward wholeness." -Rae Luskin, author of The Creative Activist: Make the World Better, One Person, One Action at a Time