Seeking Safety: A Treatment Manual for Ptsd and Substance Abuse

This manual is in use and recommended for use by the VA's National Center for PTSD at Palo Alto California.

This book, intended for therapists, is a comprehensive, compassionate, and accessible guide to what Najavits establishes is the first crucial step for someone struggling with PTSD and substance abuse: learning to feel safe. It is also an excellent resource for patients who want to help themselves. What I like best is that the book is filled with checklists, stories, exercises, and quotations such that I can open to nearly any page and find ideas that are both practical and inspirational. In short, this is a great book.

Thank you for writing such a great book. I have suffered from addictions for years, tried many books and many methods. Working with a group or individual is one thing, but for me, nothing helps more than a book. It's on call twenty four hours a day and I can easily reference it. As far as books go...this one is by far the best. The most comprehensive and in-depth book I've read so far. It provided tremendous support and guidance on issues that often result in isolation. Most of all, it didn't talk down to me as a reader. That's something I don't need! Thank you for making this book available and writing it in such a helpful way.

I can see why this book got such rave reviews and is such a best-seller. It's a superb book, offering both real insight into trauma and addiction, as well as hands-on clinical tools. As someone in the field, I have found both the philosophical and practical aspects of Najavits' work incomparable. On top of the impeccable professionalism, is her impressive writing. This is a must buy for anyone interested in this area.

This is the best treatment manual I have ever read. It is inspiring, hopeful, carefully constructed, and has exceptional clinical sensitivity for clients. So many books in psychology are written in a dry, academic style, and lack real awareness of clients. This book is a rare and notable exception.