Laura Davis

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Books

Laura Davis has been writing books that have changed people’s lives since 1988. Her first book, The Courage to Heal, provided a lifeline for millions who had been sexually abused. Her parenting book, Becoming the Parent You Want to Be, gave parents of young children a vote of confidence and the skills to create the families they wanted to have.  And with I Thought We’d Never Speak Again, Laura offers guidance and inspiration to those struggling with estranged relationships.

Laura’s books have been published in 11 languages and sold more than 1.8 million copies.

 

I.Thought.Wed.NeverI Thought We’d Never Speak Again

All of us carry the painful burden of relationships that have been sundered by betrayal, distrust, anger, and misunderstanding. In her groundbreaking new book, I Thought We’d Never Speak Again: The Road from Estrangement to Reconciliation , Laura Davis examines what tears people apart, what keeps them estranged from each other, and lays out the steps by which they can mend broken relationships and find wholeness.

Laura wrote this book as she was struggling to heal her estrangement with her own mother. Here’s what her mom has to say about the book.

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Becoming.the.ParentBecoming The Parent You Want To Be

Informative, inspiring, and enlightening, Becoming the Parent You Want to Be provides parents with the building blocks they need to discover their own parenting philosophy and develop effective parenting strategies. Through in-depth information, practical suggestions, and many lively first-person stories, Laura Davis and Janis Keyser address the many dilemmas and joys that the parents of young children encounter and demonstrate a range of solutions to the major issues that arise in the lives of babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Full of warmth, clarity, humor and respect, Becoming the Parent You Want to Be gives parents permission to be human: to question, to learn, to make mistakes, to struggle and to grow, and most of all, to have fun with their children.

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Courage.to.Heal.jacket-2The Courage to Heal (20th Anniversary Edition)

First published in 1988, this million-copy bestseller is an inspiring, comprehensive guide that offers hope and encouragement to anyone who was sexually abused as a child. The Courage to Heal takes readers step-by-step through the healing process with clarity, compassion, and a deep respect for each survivor’s journey. If you are suffering from the long-term effects of child sexual abuse, you don’t have to suffer in silence anymore. There is a way out and The Courage to Heal can show you what it is. This classic book will change your life and convince you that healing is possible—even for you.

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CTH.Workbook.jacketThe Courage to Heal Workbook

This groundbreaking companion to The Courage to Heal is an innovative, inspiring, and in-depth workbook that speaks to anyone healing from the effects of child sexual abuse. With its combination of checklists, open-ended questions, writing exercises, art projects, and activities, The Courage to Heal Workbook takes survivors step-by-step through the key aspects of the healing process. While written specifically for survivors of sexual abuse, this wise guide can be useful to anyone suffering from the effects of other kinds of trauma.

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Allies.in.HealingAllies in Healing

As the problem of child sexual abuse has come out of the closet, there is one group that has been consistently overlooked: the partner of survivors—girlfriends, boyfriends, spouses, and lovers. Allies in Healing speaks directly to the confusion, bewilderment, anger, and frustration of these partners. Based on in-depth interviews, Laura Davis offers practical advice and encouragement to all partners trying to support the steps in their loved one’s path to recovery, as well as tend to their own needs along the way. She shows couples how to deepen compassion, improve communication, and develop an understanding of healing as a shared activity.

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Beginning.to.heal.jacketBeginning to Heal

This gentle introduction to the healing process was designed for people who aren’t ready to tackle the 600 pages of The Courage to Heal. This small, friendly book is perfect for teenagers, people in crisis, or anyone who wants to wet their feet on the topic of healing from child sexual abuse.

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More Featured Students?

For years, I’ve been showcasing the work of one of my students in my monthly newsletter and here on my site. If you’d like to see a complete list of the students I’ve published, with links to their work, you can find it in the Featured Student Archives. Just click the link below.

Featured Students

What is the The Writer’s Journey Roadmap?

I send out inspiring quotes and provocative writing prompts via email Tuesday. You can collect them for their own use—or you can post your writing online and enter into dialogue and conversation with a very supportive group of writers who have made this part of their weekly writing practice.

I invite you to become part of my brilliant, supportive, intimate, honest, inspiring free online community.

I hope to see you up on the Roadmap soon!

First time visitor? Click here to learn about our community.

Like this Virtual Vacation?

You can also read about Laura’s travels to:

Peru 2017

In which Laura and Karyn and 18 writers explore Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of Peru.

Serbia 2017

In which Laura leads a workshop at the Incest Trauma Center.

Greece 2016

In which Laura explores the wonders of Crete and Santorini with a wide-eyed group of Write, Travel, Transform adventurers.

Vietnam 2015/16

In which Laura, who grew up during the Vietnam War, goes to Southeast Asia and finds out what Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are really like today.

Commonweal 2015

A journey toward healing loss and grief in a magnificent Northern California setting.

Scotland 2015

In which Laura returns to Scotland with a new group for another jaunt through the wonders of the Scottish Highlands.

Scotland 2013

In which Laura attends the Edinburgh theatre festival and leads 14 writers to a magical retreat in the highlands of Northern Scotland.

Bali 2013

In which Laura visits Australia, and spends three weeks diving, exploring, and teaching in three regions of Bali.

Florida 2014

A journey into old age in America in which Laura brings her 86-year-old mother to Florida so she can see her last surviving sister one final time.

Mexico 2014

In which Laura attends the San Miguel Writer’s Conference and explores the artistic towns around Patzcuaro.

About Laura Davis

In the course of my career as a communicator, I have also worked as a columnist, talk show host, radio reporter, radio producer, blogger, editor, and speaker. Words have always been at the core of my work and my self-expression. Read More . . .

Photo taken by Jason Ritchey

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adventure Aging Parents Alzheimer’s Bali cancer Commonweal creative writing creativity dementia Ellen Bass emp empty nest entrepreneur featured writers greece Laura's stories Laura's wisdom marketing memoir mexico Mother-Daughter parenting teenagers poetry reconciliation retreats sandwich generation Scotland spirituality teaching travel travel adventure Vietnam write travel transform writing practice writing retreat writing tips writing workshop

What People Are Saying About Laura Davis:

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Retreating with Laura: Julie Sheehan

Julie Sheehan

For many years I put off my dream of writing and traveling. I told myself the kids were too little, my husband could never survive without me, that I couldn't possibly be so selfish. I couldn't imagine realistically stepping out of all of my responsibilities and roles. Then I started attending Laura’s summer retreat at Commonweal in northern California and that became an annual gift to myself for the next three years.

When the opportunity to travel with Laura internationally came up, my Land of Later mentality said I could never pull it off. But when my friend got cancer at age 39, I decided to stop taking life and it's endless opportunities to grow, live, nurture and explore myself for granted.

My children were 6 and 9 when I began allowing myself the luxurious pleasure of taking 10 days to two weeks each year to travel abroad with Laura, to spend time with like minded, soul searching people who share a passion for living and writing, to have all my meals prepared for me, to have the space and freedom to stretch out of my cage and check in with who I am, what I want, and how best to get there.

Laura is a skilled and nurturing teacher who encourages her students to take risks, to grow as human beings, and to be vulnerable. She has provided me with a forum where I can gain all my CEUs and learn techniques on how to become a more engaging writer, all while completing yearly emotional rehab.

I return home from each of Laura’s trip a little wiser, a little more open, and a lot more compassionate. I greet my family, friends and daily life with sparkly, clean energy and a renewed patience, brought about by way of re-writing old stories that I needed to let go of. I come home ready to move forward in my life.

A retreat with Laura Davis is one of the best gifts I ever received and gave myself. It took many years to realize that I was worth the time and financial investment, but now there is no looking back.

Julie Sheehan, Livermore California

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Writing Retreats

Whether you are a beginner, an established writer, a published author, or are looking for a creative vacation with your spouse…I have a retreat for you.

Read more . . .

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