The Box of Daughter

"Well-written, intriguing, and so very enlightening. Thoroughly enjoyed this book, and if I could give it more than “5 stars” I certainly would!!”
—LibraryThing

“Mayfield’s memoir is a testament to the merit of psychological healing through the understanding and expression of feelings. Full of stark realities of abuse but also the hopefulness of healing, Mayfield’s memoir provides helpful insight to those facing similar struggles.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Fresh, bold, and inspiring.”
—Examiner.com

“Katherine Mayfield holds nothing back, and her unflinching, thorough, and articulate honesty is a true gift for anyone wanting to understand, face, and rise above the emotional scars of a damaging childhood."
—Amy Wood, Psy.D., author of Life Your Way

Description:
In her twenties and thirties, the author pursued a professional acting career in an attempt to gain the respect and attention she lacked in childhood, appearing Off-Broadway, in independent films, and on the daytime drama Guiding Light. Entering therapy in her thirties in response to a divorce, she began to unravel the threads of dysfunction in her family of origin.

More than a decade later, armed with the truth about her family, she sought to understand the challenges her parents faced and recover from the trauma while simultaneously acting as the family caregiver for the parents who abused her. Freed from the abuse by the deaths of her parents in 2005 and 2008, the author set foot on an inspiring journey to wholeness – developing self-esteem, uncovering her true self, and finally creating a life that is truly her own.

“A brave, unflinching and exquisitely rendered memoir of a family caught in the tragic and relentless cycles of emotional incest that rob so many of their innocence. Katherine’s life-long struggle to come to grips with her mother’s mental illness and her own lost childhood is at once emotionally devastating and ultimately uplifting. Couldn’t put it down.”
—Darcy Scott, author of Hunter Huntress

“Katherine Mayfield’s book is an insightful, honest, and riveting account of her childhood emotional abuse and her journey to wholeness as an adult. It demonstrates how harsh words and lack of compassion can traumatize a child just as deeply as physical or sexual abuse. Highly recommended.”
—Aletha Solter, Ph.D., founder of the Aware Parenting Institute and author of Tears and Tantrums