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F:Ms Foundation Newsletter 3508 'MarK.tStrut suite 128, Pn;Uuk(pnill, P.!U9104, (215-387-1865) October 5, 1992 (3) "Call me Mom" by Andrew Meacham challenges Dear Friends, the therapeutic notion of "reparenting" in which a person is encouraged to cut off from the "family of origin" and "Things certainly are heating up!" exclaimed a visi adopt a "family of choice" which is often the therapist or tor who arrived in the office just as three different articles a 12-step group. about FMS came spewing forth from the fax machine one Two recent news articles are also available for han right after the other. How can we capture the atmosphere dling costs: A three part series by Mark Sauer and Jim of change that we perceive when for most families we Okerblom from the San Diego Union-Tribune, "Haunting know there has still been no change? Accusations: Repressed memories of childhood abuse: One year ago on this date, we were aware of fourteen real or delusions?" and a three-part series by Bill Scanlon families who told tragic stories about once kind and lov from the Rocky Mountain News, "Skeptics question mem ing children who had become obsessed with being vic ories of incest; Incompetent therapists turn patients' fanta tims, who had become trapped in childhood, who had cut sies into repressed reality, some experts are saying." We themselves off from family, who had claimed their par have enclosed an order form. If this new service works ents or other relatives had done unspeakable things. We smoothly, we will make more articles available. (If you thought that was amazing. In this newsletter we report send copies that can be reproduced, be sure that they are that we are now aware of over 1,400 such families. That originals, not copies themselves.) is astounding. There is a feeling of change, but the Foundation is One year ago, we had never heard of anyone giving not the cause of the change. You are. One person wrote to up these memories. Today we are aware of more than us that he felt that after the first meeting somehow some thirty recanters. Last month we knew of no Foundation one would "wave a magic wand and all this would be be families whose children had given up memories. Today hind us or somehow cleared up." There are no magic we can write that two families called to tell us their wands. Professionals and families together are writing the daughters had apologized for their false memories. In one saipt to a drama in which we clid not choose to pecfonn. case, we were told that the daughter gave up the memo If we want a happy ending, we'll have to make it happen. ries when her therapist was written about in the newspa No one else has so much as stake. per. In the other case we were told that FMS materials Because of the cult-like cutting off by the children caused a son-in-law to question and that was enough to and their therapists, we must work at the level of public bring about a change. awareness to change the situation. You have written let One year ago we had little idea of the phenomenon ters to papers; you have knocked on politicians doors; you with which we were dealing. Today we have Foundation have filed complaints; you have appeared in. public; you liaisons in forty-four US states and three Canadian prov have written journal articles; you have even picketed; you inces. Today we have a small library of articles, legal in have kept us informed. You are changing the climate. formation and survey data about families. We have re Keep it up. We will do our part from the office, but the ceived our first private foundation grant funding for ana ending depends on you. tional conference to be held in the spring. There are now Pamela two graduate students working in areas related to FMS-one from the perspective of psychology, the other :w~~n.c<e ~~ §nll>llnli\\111~ from health insurance. We have had professional visitors come to the office to use our materials to prepare work Please send us your stories shops for colleagues. for the book to follow Conj11.bulations. The biggest change has come in the press. One year It will be a view of False Memory Syndrome ago there was literally nothing written about FMS (in through the eyes of the sisters and brothers. deed, it did not even have a name). There are now many well-documented professional and popular articles about Our Critics FMS. In this mailing, members will receive three new ar Criticism of the Foundation continues. ticles. (1) "Inadvertent hypnosis during interrogation: False The King County Sexual Assault Resource Center in confessions due to dissociative state; mis-identified multi Renton. WA headlined an article in its summer 1992 ple personality and the satanic cult hypothesis" by Rich newsletter about the Foundation with 'The Backlash Has ard Ofshe, Ph.D. (Berkeley) is an incredible story of a Begun." In this article, Gayle M. Stringer, MA attributes man who confessed to committing ritual satanic abuse but to the Foundation beliefs and motivations that she must whose confession is really meaningless since an experi have invented. "In one broad brush stroke, the FMS group ment showed that he would confess to anything. denounces and attempts to discredit those who were vie~ (2) "'Psychiatric Misadventuces" by Paul McHugh, timized as children and the service providers who treat M.U.lo\ms \lo\)kins)~estions the whole notion of Multi and support them." Statements from the Foundation have ple Personality Disorder as being an artifact of the psychi appeared many times that child abuse exists and is an un conscionable crime. atric community. • Ocl 5,1992 FMs Foundation Newsletter page2 . The Utah Daily Herald reported on September 5 that their own lives. There is nothing strange or unusual in Susan Asher, a Provo therapist, "believes FMS is nothing that One anecdote is not scientific evidence. Just because more than 'a massive denial and justification' movement one person has told us that she was able to validate her started by perpetrators of child sexual abuse." We have own memories from television. does not mean that others given this information to our lawyers because people have do. But it raises a flag. Could self-reports of abuse be con suggested that this is libelous, but it really seems too silly taminated by media stories? Could the phenomenon be to bother with. It is obvious that Ms. Asher knows so little feeding on itself through the widespread coverage that about psychology that she survivors have engendered. failed to recognize the names · of the distinguished re- ' Therapist bias? If a thera searchers who comprise the pist had a preconceived notion FMS Foundation Advisory that sexual abuse is the cause of Board. How embarrassing for a vast array of symptoms, then her. How sad for her clients. it is likely that therapist will On National Public find incest. People tend to find Radio, Talk of the Nation in what they are looking for and August, Rene Fredrickson, they tend to neglect to consider Ph.D., a person who special alternative hypotheses. lhis is izes in "chronic abuse trauma referred to as attentional bias. syndrome & repressed mem "Attentional bias can be under ories" asked why we ever be stood as failure to look for evi lieve recanters. To be ac dence against an initial possibil cused of incest is, apparently, ity, or failure to consider alter to be guilty. Once accused native possibilities." Baron, J. there's no way the Rene (1988) Thinking and Deciding, Fredricksons of the world Cambridge U, p 247. Because will ever believe you inno we are not privy to the actual cent. therapy sessions, we must rely on other types of information to look for potential bias. Here are How is the FMS pbenom· a few examples: enon spreading? A parent: My daughter said, "The therapist told me, Media? We had a phone 'Your damaging dreams and call this week that gave us your past behavior are a text some insights into how the book case of sexual abuse as a phenomenon or hysteria child. You will never be able to might be spreading. We live a normal life until you face talked with a woman who the problem."' had called us several weeks ago questioning her own A Social Worker: "I would memories. We called her to automatically suspect sexual ask what she was thinking abuse in someone with an eat now that she had received ing disorder." Nita Daniels some material from the Foun Levin, a psychiatric and clinical dation. She told us that she social worker in Toronto, .GQS:. was certain now that her own mopolitan, May 1992 p248. therapist had not led her in A psychologist: "lt's any way and that the therapist [sexual abuse] so common that had used hypnosis only once I'll tell you. I can within 10 at the caller's request Indeed, minutes, I can spot it as a this person told us that she person walks in the door, often was becoming more and before they even realize it more convinced that her memories of satanic ritual abuse There's a trust, a lack of trust, that's the most common were real memories. She told us that since our first chat. issue. There's a way that a person presents themselves. she had validated her memories. She said that she had There's a certain body language tha.t sctys ('m. afraid !0 read stories in the newspaper and had seen things on tele expose myself. I'm afraid you're going to hurt me." CNBC vision that proved to her that her memories were real. program Real Personal on Apri127, 1992. Brenda Wade, What responsibility does the media play in this? Peo Ph.D. who was identified as a licensed San Francisco ple have always used myths and stories to help explain family therapist and as "Good Morning America's On-Air Flvfs Oct 5,1992 Foundation Newsletter page3 Psychologist" New York !imes on September 9, 1992, 70% of women A recanter: "I went to a and one-third of men therapists "had experienced some counselor who said she spe form of abuse, including milder cialized with helping people fonns like sexual harassment." get in touch with repressed The information he reported feelings. It was helpful for has come from a national sur the first year and a half. I vey of clinical and counsellng worked through stuff But psychologists to be published then it moved to sexual in the journal Professional Psy abuse awareness. I began to chology: Research and Prac wonder, 'Did anything hap tice. pen to me?' I got an anxiety Some professionals indi that wouldn't go away. cated that this was positive. From that point the thera "Many experts see in the data a sign of the Jungian notion of pist pushed to get at this re "wounded healers," who are pressed stuff. Pressure, di rection, subtle. I began to adept at treating emotional doubt my own uneasiness wounds because they too have but I thought, 'She's suffered them." Other experts see this as startling. Dr. Jesse trained. She knows what she's doing,' But then I got ---- Geller at Yale University was quoted as saying "I've heard to the point of a mental breakdown. " th~t the most co~n slfp thf!t therapists make is to sub stttute the word parent for patient.' It suggests that in An advertisement: "REMEMBERING INCEST AND some symbolic sense, many therapists go into the field to CHILDHOOD ABUSE IS THE FIRST STEP TO HEALING. We can cure their parents, to undo how they were raised. " help you remember and heal. 1-800-xxx-xxxx. This ad which we r~d in the United Airline Magazine in July: Do therapists view themselves as abuse victims? lllis report would indicate that they do. If so, how does this went on to hst symptoms ".• MooD SWINGS • PANIC DIS add to our understanding of the spread of the phenome ORDER • SUBSTANCE ABUSE • RAGE • FLASHBACK • DE PRESSION • HOPELESSNESS • ANXIEIT • PARANOIA • Low non? What does this mean for training institutions? Some therapists ignore research evidence. SELF ESTEEM • RELAPSE • RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS • SEXU We also know that the therapists who have alienated AL FEAR • SEXUAL COMPULSION • SELF MUTILATION • BOR children from their families ignore research evidence. DERliNE PERSONAUIY • IRRfl'ABLE BO.WEL • MIGRAINE • Most of them urge their clients to read The Courage to P.M.S • POST TRAUMATIC SI'RESS • BUUMIA • ANOREXIA • Heal ~hlch states in its preface that it is based on no psy A.C.O.A .• OBESITY • MULTIPLE PERSONAUIT • HAUUCI chological theory. That book perpetuates many unscientif NATIONS • REUG!OUS ADDICTION • PARENI'ING PROBLEMS • ic myths ranging from inflated rates of child abuse to the SUICIDAL FEEUNGS •" intergenerational transmission of violence to the so-called signs that indicate abuse. Following are three references Do these examples indicate possible therapy bias? that should make therapists more cautions about "signs" You decide. of abuse. "CURRENT EVIDENCE DOES NOT SUPPORT TilE What do we know about therapists? HYPOTHESIS THAT CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE IS A We preface this section by noting our deep apprecia RISK FACTOR FOR BULIMIA NERVOSA." Hanison & tion for the majority of mental health professionals, in Hudson. 1992. '"Is childhood sexual abuse a risk factor for cluding psychiatrists. psychologists, social workers and bulimia nervosa?", American Journal of Psychiatry 149:4 counselors, who are supporting the FMS l'oun<lation. We April. could not function as a credible organization without the "As YET, THERE IS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO professional comminnent we receive. The professionals CONFIRM A RELATION BETWEEN A HISTORY OF CHILD with whom we are in contact are very disturbed by the be HOOD SEXUAL ABUSE AND A POSTSEXUAL ABUSE SYN havior of a subset of that community. As one doctor put DROME .4.ND MULTIPLE OR BORDERLINE PERSONAI.ITY it, "I've been very worried about what was going on. DISORDER." Beitchman. Zlucker, Hood, DaCosta, Your organization gives me a way to begin to do some Akman & Cassavia. 1992. "A review of the long term ef thing about it." We are not "out to get therapists." We do, fects of child sexual abuse." Child Abuse & Neglec~ Vol however, expect an accounting from those therapists who 16 pp 10!-118. have cruelly alienated children and grandchildren from "OVERALL, STUDY FINDING INDICATE TIIAT their families and who have ruthlessly ruined the reputa EARLY ABUSIVE TRAUMA AND ADULT FUNCTIONING tions and lives of thousands of people. HAVE NO SIMPLE RELATIONSHIP." Martin & Elmer, According to a report by Daniel Goleman, "Surpris 1992. "Battered children grown up: A follow-up srudy of ing Portrait of Psychotherapists as Abuse Victims" in the individuals severely maltreated as children." Child Abuse • Ocl 5, 1992 FivJs Foundation Newsletter page4 • & Neglect, Voll6, pp 75-87. page "therapist survey: • Please help us by filling it out Of course, other articles stating different positions immediately with as much information as you now have. can readily be found. We urge readers to examine the re~ Even if you have sent us this information in a letter, we search presented on all sides with an open mind. Be criti ask that you send it again on the enclosed form so that (1) cal of the sample size, whether it's a case study or con the information we receive will be consistent and (2) the trolled study, etc. It is our opinion that the above studies infonnation can be entered into the computer more effi are sound and ought to be taken very seriously. ciently and quickly. If you return the survey immecliately, Preliminary Survey Data we will have the data entered and ready to analyze by De We know a bit more about the specific therapists who cember. have caused such distress to Foundation families. Holly If you don't have any information about the ther· Wakefield and Pam Freyd have been reporting data from apist: A reputable therapist should be willing to send you 150 initial surveys. This is what families have reported: a resume if you call the office and ask for one. If a theraM pist is employed in a clinic, the clinic should provide a re N=122 ~ .DQ. sume, and also give you the name of the therapist's super· Know the therapist 70 52 visor if there is one. Reputable therapists and clinics wm Qua!Hications tell you their fees. If the therapist is licensed, Information Psychiatrist 7 can be obtained from the state licensing boards. We have Psychologist• 23 sent licensing board information that we have to the peo Social Worker 18 ple who are acting as state liaisons. Counselors 21 If you don't even know who the therapist is: Some Ministers/Pastors 7 parents have told us that they hired private detectives to Therapist gender find out the names of those responsible for rewriting their Female 62 children's history. Others have told us that it is less ex Male 23 pensive and just as good to ask family members or friends who may have some contact with the accusing child to Age of therapists by gender help get this information. .ago_ ..E. .M. If you want to meet with the therapist: Some parents 20-29 2 0 have been able to arrange meetings with their children's 30-39 19 4 therapists. We are sorry to report that most parents have 40-49 15 10 told us these were disastrous. Parents were generally not 50-59 3 5 prepared for the type of interview or confrontation that 60-69 0 0 took place. With the help of professionals and families, 7Q-79 0 1 the Foundation has written guidelines to help families *Preliminary results indicate that most of the therapists prepare for a meeting with their child's therapist Mem are female, aged 30 to 50. Since many people do not bers may write and ask for: Guidelines for meeting with make a distinction between psychologist and psychotheraM child's therapist. Please include a self·addressed enveM pist, we question the number for psychologists. lope. If you file a complaint: Many families tell us that they have started the process of filing complaints with What can families do? various government and professional organizations. As Families tell us that they are profoundly frustrat we receive infonnation and guidelines, we will sent them ed. They write and phone and say they feel a sense of ur to the state liaisons sinCe these are state level issues. One gency. They tell us "My child seems to be growing worse, word of warning has been given to us from the organiza not better," or they ask. "How can this be good for my tion, Stop Abuse by Counselors. If you file a complaint, grandchildren that I am not allowed to see?" Some famiM you may want to have it checked with a lawyer. If you in lies have become so desperate for action that they have tend future legal action when the time is appropriate, the picketed a therapist's office (we must report that we did wording of any complaints written now could be impor· receive a phone call from a client of that particular thera tant. pist asking us to thank the picketing families for helping her to confirm her suspicions about the treatment she was receiving). Many families have asked us to put them in con I For Help Call 1-800-568-88821 tact with other fanu1ies whose children may have the same therapist so that they can make complaints and ex plore legal actions together. For example, three weeks ago a family in state A asked us if we could help them get in touch with the Attorney General in state B. We happened to know of families in state B who were already in the CONFERENCE process of making complaints with the Attorney General Aprill6-18, 1992 and were able to put them in contact Philadelphia, PA With this newsletter all families are receiving a one Fivfs Oct 5, 1992 Foundation Newsletter pageS Details in November newsletter. basis to let members know about meetings. As our num bers continue to increase, however, it is getting to be The FMS Foundation conference in the spring is more difficult to do that. We are looking for more effi certain to be an interesting event. The main focus will be cient ways to let people know about meetings. the presentation of academic papers that relate to issues of False Memory Syndrome. A committee will organize the Here are some suggestions: invitation of presenters, panels and workshops for both professional and family interests. We will solicit papers 1) Plan a regular schedule for meetings. We will include that represent differing views on the reality of repressed this along with the name of a contact person when we memories and the techniques used to elicit these sorts of send the original packet. memories. Why different perspectives? We feel a need to 2) Try to plan meetings enough in advance so that we can explain why we will invite speakers with differing views. announce them through the newsletter rather than through Because so much has appeared with never a question special flyers-although we understand that emergency about the reality of all recovered memories, some people meetings will happen from time to time. Please send us in have suggested that we should have a conference that pre writing any notice you would like to have included. Th..is sented only the skeptical side. should help reduce the nwnber of mistakes. We must have a conference in which all sides are presented because the lives of thousands of people will be ********* affected by the results. In the best academic tradition, re New England Area searchers must publicly present their evidence, listen to Note change of date criticism and respond. In the best academic tradition the Sunday November 1, 1992 body of evidence must be weighed and some operating 1:30 P.M. principles determined. We have been advised that clini CaliJo e 508-7 52-0554 for details cians and researchers who are strong believers in the total validity of an repressed memories will refuse to appear. ********* Since this conference will be public, we expect that aca demics, families and the press will question any research Southwest Region ers who refuse to participate should such an unlikely situ LA, OK, TX, CO, AR, KS, NM ation arise. This is not an ordinary academic conference. Saturday Nov 7, 1992 Families and reputations are in the balance. The FMS 9:00A.M- Foundation has nothing to hide. We support an open, bal Austin, Texas anced and public conference. Rally at the Capitol Bldg to Encourage Mental Health Refonn FMS Foundation Ad for details call Lynn 214-352-7221 The following material is to use if you wish to or Rosemary 405-439-2459 place an ad announcing the 800 number. ********* Have you been falsely accused by an Ohio Area adult on the basis of ~·recovered mem~ Sunday November 15, 1992 ories?u You are not alone. Help us 2:00P.M. document the extent of this phenome~ Call Bob or Carole at 216-888-7963 non. Call the False Memory Syn~ ********* drome Foundation at 1-800-568-8882. Florida Saturday November 14, 1992 1:00 P.M. MEETINGS Call Kevin Fanner at 800-374-7477 We urge every person who receives this newslet ter to call the contact person for the state in which you ********* live. We now have FMS Foundation liaisons in almost Some groups have asked about forming official branches. every state. For the time being, it will be the biggest help to the Foun Some liaisons have expressed frustration that we dation if you consider yourself an informal group of do not give the names of people who call the Foundation. "Professionals and Parents in Support of the FMS Foun We understand that frustration because it is frustrating dation." from the perspective of the central office too, and it cre ates Jots of extra work. To date we have tried to solve this problem by offering to send out flyers on a state-by-state Defending SUNDAY parents from Phila,delphia Inquirer September 20, 1992 By LUCIA HERNDON ugly charges Defending parents from ugly charges Agr oup of young people met re cently in a pleasant family ' room in a suburban house. How LUCIA HERNDOI'I!rom l1 away, only to return decades later. bottom or this." ironic, I thought. Meeting In a family My sister nearly wrecked my rela·. Since its ln~ption In .M arch, · t~e :one' sibling blamed unscrupulous room to bear tales of families torn tionship with my parents." . · · False Memory Syndrome Foundation .therapists for nu·rturlng this type of apart. Others told or their sisters' trying has been contac:ted by 1,200 family accusation. _. .- . . The group was made up of people to convince them that they, too, bad members across the Country who have "They pick on upper-middle-class· whose siblings have accused their been Incest victims but were in a been accused of Incest. Its mission is tO women,'' she said. ''Those are the parents of Incest -a crime that the .stage or deep denial. . help every member of the family. women who have the money for parents hotly deny. The group mem .... For a while you ask yourself, 'Did "Parents are understandably up therapy. You won't find poor people bers had gathered to find ways to .this happen to me and I forgot U?'" set," Said Freyd: "But the siblings .. making these kinds of charges. And suppon one another and their par said one woman. "But I teallze now also surfer." you won't find therapists going to ents In the race or these ugly accusa that my sister basically has written a One result frequently is alienation, the ghetto to look for patients. tions. 'play and h"as assigned us roles. I'm and not only of the accuser. Family There's no money there.'' Their stories were disturbingly :StJpposed to be the repressed VIctim. members have missed graduations, · ~·Research has shown flow easy 1t Is similar - and nearly always in· MY parents are the bad guys." weddings and other gatherings be to influence memory," Freyd said. "I volved women.. A sister undergoes The question these family mem· cause of the rift cause~ by the accU· think that most of the therapists In· therapy Cor depression or some otber ·bers ask Is not whether the incest sa lion-especially If the siblings are volved. are sincere, caring people emotional disorder. She announces occurred- they, finally, do not be divided about which people they be who are concerned about their pa- that she remembers instances of lieve that tt did. But they do wonder lieve. One woman said that her sister tients. But there is a tragic tack of childhood Jncest. She then wants her how these "memories" .:;uddenly ma· accused their 'father not only of understanding about the nature of parents to confess to the abuse and terlalfzed. Some think the answer years or incest but also or the ritual· memory." she wants other family members to lies in over-eager therapists who istlc ktning of the family dog In the There was a lot of heartache ex· admit that they were aware of the plant the notion o{ abuse that an bathroom. pressed at this meeting. Yet these situation. ·u that doesil't happen, she emotionally unstable patient then "It is very clear to me that none of participants seemed to feel the need may very well cut off contact with believes actually happened." these things happened," said the to try to maintain a relationship with her entire family. J _,- : ''We're not denying that incest and woman. "But what Is true Is that my their sisters. It was hard for me to Devastating to parents, yes. But :sexual abuse does occur," said Pam· sister beUeves ·ft happened and has believe that they could continue the equally devastating to those siblings ;ela Freyd, executive director or the pulled away from the family because effort, especially when theY often who question the allegations. •False Memory Syndrome Founda· none or us believes it. I was close to were rebuffed. They are the peerS, the ones left to :tlon, a Phlladelphla·based ·o rg8niza· my sister, but now I rarely see her.'~. "They can maintain a lifeline to sort through the situation from :tton of parents whose children have Freyd said that incidents such as their sister," Patrlcla Dice said. ground level. Initially, the stories •accused them of sexut..t abuse. this are why her organization is "They can keep the lines or commu· sound authentic: because they are : "But we question charges that sur "hard at work to put some restraints nication open. A place should remain recounted with such· sincerity. But :race in a particuli.tr situation; one on this. The memories tend to get for that missing family member one woman said that when she ques ·where adults have spent their" entire more and more bizarre. They move should they want to return. Often a tioned her sister. she discovered that :uves with no memory of these Jnci· on from sexual abuse Into satanic sibling can ensure that that space is the sister's accusatloris failed to :dents. When_ they get Into therapy, rituals., •• It's not that bizarre things available." hang together. The sister told of be ·these memones suddenly appear. We don't happen, but the pattern of "Even though it's upsetting for me, ing abused as a 2-year-old, but gave ~ask the therapists to use extreme these memories ought to make there· I try to keep in. touch wtth her," said the location of tlie abuse as a house •caution, especialiy IC they are using pists stop and say, 'Wait a minute.'" one woman. "I would like my sister the famlly moved to years later. hypnosis to tap these so-called memo Efforts to reason often fall. "I tried back." A high school student said her old· _ries, and !we ask that! every attempt to talk to my daughter about her er sister's revelation lnltlaUy made be made to vertry the charges." accusations" or father-daughter in· her fearful of her father. \\· Patricla Dice, a family therapist cest, said one woman. The daughter's For More Information "I couldn't believe it was true," she who attended the recent meeting, therapist • nixed the conversation. said. "But my sister seemed so sure it said she has dealt with many cases of The mother continued: "I asked her • Contcict the False Memory happened. After she told me, I didn't childhood sexual abuse. But in those to let me talk to her therapist, but Syndrome Foundation at 1·800- want to see my father. It took me a cases, the victims never forget the she refused to give me the name. 568-8882. white to realize that it wasn't true. episodes. The memory does not fade There is no way we can get to the - • ••~o • ••r•-• -• ... ·.. .