PSYCHOTHERAPY AND MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE - A COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVE

Cognitive psychological research on the fallibility of human memory is reviewed, focusing on evidence of memory distortions and illusions, with the aim of sharing research on memory with clinical psychologists and practitioners who use memory recovery techniques to help clients recover suspected memories of childhood sexual abuse. The memory literature suggests that incautious use of memory recovery techniques may lead some adult clients who were not abused to come to believe that they were. Considerations relevant to assessing whether or not clients have repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse are discussed, as are suggestions for minimizing the risk of leading clients to create illusory memories or beliefs of childhood sexual abuse.