Abstract
Group psychotherapy for adults reporting childhood sexual abuse is a well recognised form of treatment but little attention has been given to the possible adverse effects. This paper reports on three patients seen within a NHS trust department of psychotherapy who had taken part in an incest ‘survivor group’. They described individual satisfaction with their improvement but appeared, when viewed externally, to have deteriorated.
Highlights
Group psychotherapy for adults reporting childhood sexual abuse is a well recognised form of treatment but little attention has been given to the possible adverse effects
Group psychotherapy is frequently used in the treatment of adults who give a history of child hood sexual abuse
Ganzarin & Buchete (1986) advocate a peer group as offering members the opportunity to explore the meaning of their experience with others who have suffered
Summary
Group psychotherapy for adults reporting childhood sexual abuse is a well recognised form of treatment but little attention has been given to the possible adverse effects. This paper reports on three patients seen within a NHS trust department of psychotherapy who had taken part in an incest 'survivor group'. They described individual satisfaction with their improvement but appeared, when viewed externally, to have deteriorated. Herman & Schatzow viewed this as evidence for the repression of sexual abuse 1995; Pope & Hudson, 1995) for failing to take account of infantile amnesia, unlikely or improbable scenarios, and the possibility of suggestion and contagion among group members These authors a'rregmueemtbheart' meavneyntsof tthoe gfirtoutpheimr emobwenrs acnadmethteo therapist's expectations of memory recovery and that peer group suggestion had played a key part. During the period October 1995 to March 1996 three adult patients were referred for treatment oinfcseesxt ua'sluravbivuosre. gEroaucph'. hTadwobeoefntheasemegmrobuepr s ofhaadn been run within the NHS and the third was a voluntary group and nothing is known of the training or credentials of the group leader
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
