Typical Therapy Practices
Typically repressed memory therapy encompasses several stages. In the first, therapists employ
a list of symptoms that are used as proof of repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse.
These symptoms number in the hundreds and include: headaches, vaginal infections, sleep disturbances, stomachaches, dizziness, eating disorders or fears of eating foods such as bananas
or tapioca pudding, problems in maintaining stable relationships, a penchant for wearing baggy clothes, obesity, depression, or low self esteem. It is a rare individual who hasn't displayed or
experienced some of these symptoms during his or her lifetime, yet proponents of the movement
acknowledge only one cause: repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse.

The next phase of therapy is convincing the patient that she was abused whether she can
remember or not. She is told that only by believing in the sexual abuse and recovering the
memories of abuse can she heal. Most patients entering therapy are emotionally vulnerable and
so the therapist, in a position of authority and trust, can easily do this. Should the client be
reluctant to believe in the abuse, the therapist explains that she is in denial and can use pop
psychology books like The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual
Abuse to support their theory of repressed memory. Authors Ellen Bass and Laura Davis write,
" If you think you were abused and your life shows the symptoms, then you were. And, If you
don't remember your abuse, you are not alone. Many women don't have memories: this doesn't mean they weren't abused." 2

In another such book, Secret Survivors: Uncovering Incest and Its Aftereffects in Women,
E. Sue Blume supports Bass and Davis when she states her opinion that Incest is easily the
greatest single underlying reason why women seek therapy or other treatment She goes on:
"Many, if not most, incest survivors do not know that the abuse has even occurred!" 3

It is important to keep in mind that there is no scientifically proven list of typical symptoms of
sexual abuse. Symptoms displayed by actual abuse victims are the kinds of symptoms that also
result from other emotional and physical trauma, such as divorce, moving, illness, accidents,
loss of family members, new marriages, or change of employment.

Once the patient is convinced that her problems can be cured by remembering childhood
memories of abuse, she enters into a course of therapy to uncover those experiences.
Therapists often use hypnotic trances to uncover memories and may even use sodium pentathol
as a truth serum in an effort to verify memories recovered during hypnosis. Other highly
questionable methods incorporated into therapy are guided imagery, age regression, inner child work, relaxation therapy, channeling, trance writing and crystal reading.

Therapists often place patients in incest survivors support groups where new victims are
surrounded by other women who have either recovered their own abuse memories or are in the
process of recovering them. There the patient is encouraged and sometimes even pressured by group members to remember alleged incidents of sexual abuse.

The final step in healing is enabling the patient to believe in any and all recovered memories.
Again, if patients are reluctant or doubt the details of their memories, therapists can call on publications like The Courage to Heal, The Courage to Heal Workbook, and Secret Survivors
where incest survivors are taught how to believe in their flashbacks, body memories, and recollections of abuse, no matter how bizarre the details may be. The patients are told that there
is no need for collaboration or proof because what is recalled is historically accurate and
unalterable: their memory acts as a video tape of their lives. Therapists also remove themselves
from any professional responsibility of examining statements or looking for corroboration by
explaining they are neither police nor investigators. They are merely 'facilitators' to help women become whole and healthy.

Once patients believe in their memories, they are told it is then possible to begin the healing
process. Patients are encouraged to sever their relationship with the abuser and any family
member or friend who does not believe in the allegations. There are other support groups to
attend that often incorporate primal scream therapy or physical violence to help work out the
anger that patients feel. The victims are also told that they may sue the alleged abusers in order
to gain control of their lives and with the act, become survivors.

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