Recollections Sex Abuse 1E Pa

by Courtois,Christine

• ISBN13: 9780393703979
• ISBN10: 0393703975
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-04-17
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Summary

This book has a two-fold purpose: (1) to provide the practicing clinician with information about the controversy surrounding delayed/repressed memory of sexual abuse and (2) to provide treatment principles and guidelines for working with these issues. Since the eruption of the recovered memory controversy in 1992, the treatment of adults who report abuse as children (whether their memory has been relatively continuous or has been recovered) has become a high-risk area, as numerous lawsuits have been filed alleging false memory of abuse due to suggestive therapeutic practices. In this climate, clinicians have become fearful, cautious, and confused about how to practice responsibly with this population. Since a large percentage of those seeking psychotherapy have a history of sexual abuse, all clinicians need a clear articulation of the current evolving standard of care for clients reporting memories of abuse. Drawing together material from many sources, this book provides state-of-the-art principles and guidelines for treatment when memories of past abuse are at issue. It covers available empirical and clinical data on human memory processes for normal and traumatic events and on the treatment of posttraumatic conditions in general and child sexual abuse in particular; the critiques and concerns voiced by cognitive psychologists who investigate memory and suggestibility issues; the recommendations made by a number of professional task forces and advisory committees charged with studying the issues involved in the controversy and making recommendations for practice; and the recommendations of expert clinicians and clinical researchers. Especially useful is Courtois's application of the treatment decision model to a range of clinical scenarios, from continuous, corroborated memory of abuse to suspicions of abuse based on symptomatology. Speaking with authority and empathy, Courtois shows clinicians how to practice responsibly and safely while doing memory work. Her guidance is invaluable.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	xiii
Establishing the Context: The Recovered Memory/False Memory Controversy in Sociohistorical Perspective	1	(30)
The Present Context: An Overview of the Recovered Memory/False Memory Controversy	31	(41)
Trauma and Memory	72	(45)
Child Sexual Abuse and Memory	117	(30)
Evolving Standards of Practice and the Standard of Care: Philosophy and Principles of Practice	147	(29)
The Evolving Consensus Model of Posttrauma Treatment: Sequenced, Titrated, Focused on Symptom Relief and Functioning	176	(43)
Clinical Guidelines and Risk Management for Assessment and Diagnosis	219	(39)
Clinical Guidelines and Risk Management for Working with Memory Issues	258	(38)
Countertransference Issues and a Treatment Decision Model: Application to Ten Clinical Memory Scenarios	296	(45)
Afterword	341	(36)
Appendices
A. Professional Task Force Reports	353	(2)
B. Summaries of Selected Reports of Professional Task Forces on Delayed/Recovered Memoris	355	(14)
C. Model Forms: Policies and Procedures and Informed Consent	369	(8)
References	377	(36)
Index	413