Nov/Dec 2006 - Vol. 15, No. 6

15 Pages·2006·0.16 MB·English

F A L S E M E M O R Y S Y N D R O M E F O U N D A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 Vol. 15 No. 6
Dear Friends, chiatry such as Robert Rockwell and Bennett Braun.
Still, most of mainstream culture will likely shrug off
“Ritual abuse may now seem an almost quaint aber-
the satanic ritual material as insignificant patter from an
ration, a temporary fad that seized the popular imagi-
obsessed minority of believers. More disturbing are the
nation, as outdated as hula-hoops or disco fever.”
mainstream purveyors of misinformation that foster beliefs
Fister, B. (2003). The devil in the details: Media representation of “ritual that have so tragically harmed people. (See p. 3) In a forth-
abuse” and evaluation of sources. Studies in Media & Information Literacy
coming issue of Consciousness and Cognition, Kathy
Education,3(2). http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/journal/ejournals/simile
(Accessed October 16, 2006.) Pezdek and Shirley Lam write that the researchers who have
studied false memories are guilty of doing bad science. That
The observation above may seem overly optimistic
is a serious assertion. Fortunately, Kimberly Wade and col-
when you read some of the articles in this newsletter.
leagues provided a scholarly and powerful response.
Amazingly,belief in satanic ritual abuse continues to thrive
Anew paper by Constance Dalenberg, Ph.D., appeared
in far too many places. For example, British Columbian
in October (See p. 4) and was described by one naive read-
Donna Krahn has filed a lawsuit against therapists that she
er as a “scholarly, thoughtful, non-defensive and non-emo-
alleges encouraged her to believe she had been sexually
tional” argument that recovered-memory evidence should
abused in bizarre satanic rituals and, as a consequence, she
pass the “Daubert criteria.” Because this paper will be used
lost custody of her children. (See p. 5) The suit names Elijah
in legal contexts, we think that it is important to examine it
House in Canada and retired law-enforcement chaplain
carefully. In a box in the article’s second page (275) we
Steve Oglevie, a self-styled Biblical counselor in Idaho who
learn from the paper’s summary “Key Points” that a
claims to have removed “mind-control systems” from over
“Review of the weight of the evidence of the phenomenon
375 persons in the last 12 years. (Several FMSF families
of recovered memory by the fair-minded scientist” would
have written to us about Steve Oglevie.)
allow it into courtrooms. Thus we also learn Dalenberg’s
“How can this still be going on?” you might wonder.In
view of all the scientists who disagree with her: they're not
September, Australian investigative journalist Richard
just wrong, they are not even fair-minded.
Guilliatt published an article about a “healing” center in that
Dalenberg's views are made even clearer by her omis-
country that may provide a clue: Christian “healing” pro-
sion of the word “alleged.” On page 277 she writes: “attacks
grams are under the radar of monitoring agencies. (See p. 8)
on recovered memory began in the 1980s and 1990s, clear-
No one has jurisdiction over the practices in such centers.
ly in response to the need for a legal strategy to defend
If you believe everything that you read, you would con-
accused molesters.” (Which is worse—accused molesters or
clude that Australia has a big ritual abuse problem. Last
un-accused molesters?)
April, the Advocates for Survivors of Child Abuse, with
Dalenberg’s pettiness can be startling. She identifies
government funding, published “Ritual Abuse & Torture in
Elizabeth Loftus—not as a member of the National
Australia. (See p. 6) Given the fact that the report was fund-
Academy of Science and the American Academy of Arts
ed by the government, endorsed by two prominent psychol-
ogists, and contains an impressive number of references, a
In this issue...
naïve reader might assume that the report is fair and reason-
able. Superficially it seems impressive, but to anyone famil- Lost in Therapy..................................................................8
iar with the topic the references are a hodge-podge. From Our Readers ..........................................................11
Included in the stew are self-published papers posted on the Bulletin Board..................................................................14
web and articles by people discredited in mainstream psy- The next e-mail newsletter will be sent in mid-January.
The next mailed newsletter will be sent in early March.
1955 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-5766, 215-940-1040, Fax [phone], www.FMSFonline.org
and Sciences, not as past-president of the American their memories were more talented in forgetting emotional
Psychological Society and winner of its prestigious William stimuli than survivors who always remembered the abuse.
James Award, not as winner of the $200,000 Grawemeyer Elke Geraerts and her colleagues at Maastricht University
Award, nor the American Psychological Association's 2003 studied this claim and “found no support for the hypothe-
Award for Distinguished Scientific Applications of sis.”[1] This study replicates work of McNally, Clancy and
Psychology, not even as the top ranked woman in the colleagues in 2000 and 2004. The authors observe that “on
Review of General Psychology’s list of 100 Most Eminent the basis of the empirical literature on emotional memory, it
Psychologists of the 20th Century. Dalenberg’s sole is hard to understand how traumatic events could be disso-
description of Loftus is on page 277: she is identified as one ciated or repressed.” ( http://www.personeel.unimaas.nl/
of three “professional witnesses.” E.Geraerts/Geraerts%20et%20al_2006a_BRAT.pdf) One
Dalenberg is not a fan of the FMS Foundation, nor does more myth about recovered memories has been put to rest.
she seem to know much about it. On page 277 she writes We began the newsletter with a quote from a web arti-
that the FMS Foundation “identifies media coverage as its cle called “The devil in the details: Media representation of
most important objective.” The purposes of the Foundation ‘ritual abuse’ and evaluation of sources.” The author, a
as stated beginning in its articles of incorporation and con- director of college library instruction, analyzes how infor-
tinuing in its brochures are: mation is presented in various media using the ritual abuse
phenomenon as an example. It explains how the various
To seek the reasons for the spread of False Memory
media either check facts—or not check—for the works that
Syndrome;
they publish. Newsletter readers may find both the short
To work for the prevention of new cases of False Memory
history of ritual abuse and the other information helpful.[2]
Syndrome; and
Finally, don’t miss the first part of the retractor story “Lost
To aid the victims of False Memory Syndrome, and to in Therapy.” (p. 8) When we received the copy, the writer
bring their families into reconciliation. had added: “Whew, it is quite something to tell that again!
Dalenberg goes beyond pettiness when she says on I hope that this type of ‘therapy’is truly coming to an end
page 285 that the work of other FMSF Advisors “calls to as any kind of legitimate treatment.” And so do we all.
mind the fight by cigarette manufactures to ignore the evi- Pamela
dence of smoking and cancer...[they] had a Scientific
1. Geraerts, E. et al. (2006). Retrieval inhibition of trauma-related
Advisory Board similar to the False Memory Syndrome
words in women reporting repressed or recovered memories of child-
Scientific Advisory Board.”
hood sexual abuse. Behaviour Research and Therapy,44(8), 1129-1136.
After defining dissociative amnesia as “amnesia for
2. Fister,B. (2003). The devil in the details: Media representation of
abuse that has not been recovered” (p. 278) Dalenberg tells “ritual abuse” and evaluation of sources. Studies in Media &
us: “First, the diagnosis of dissociative amnesia can be Information Literacy Education,3(2).
made in the absence of memory recovery,and the diagnosis http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/journal/ejournals/simile
is typically made before memory is recovered (if amnesia is
Withering Review:
not permanent). Second, the diagnosis of dissociative amne-
The Body Never Lies: The Lingering Effects of Hurtful
sia requires not only that the client be amnestic for one or
Parenting,byAlice Miller. Norton.
more important events, but that the amnesia (not the trau-
Alice Miller influenced many people toward belief in
ma) causes significant distress.” (p. 283) Thus we learn
recovered memories of parental abuse in the 1980s with
Dalenbergbelieves that clinicians can tell in the absence of
her first book: The Drama of the Gifted Child. Carol
even a recovered memory that someone has been abused
Tavris doesn’t “spare the rod” in an October Times
and that the un-recovered memory causes significant dis-
Literary Supplement review of Alice Miller’s new book,
tress—she has cast herself back to the days of checklists of
The Body Never Lies. Tavris suggests that Miller “has
“signs and symptoms” of abuse that long ago were thor-
been writing the same book for years, and its theme is sim-
oughly discredited as a means for diagnosing past sexual
ple: it is time to get rid of the Fourth commandment to
abuse.
honour thy father and mother....I’d say there is no excuse
Lest readers feel discouraged, the negative articles and
for what seems a wilful blindness to the advances of sci-
stories we have mentioned are a minority, but it remains
ence in her own profession, especially one that has such a
important to be aware of what our critics think. The good
direct impact on her clients’ and devoted readers’ lives.
news is that memory researchers continue to publish papers
but obviously there is: she was an abused child.”
that help to clarify false/recovered memory questions. For
example, one argument that has been made is that survivors Times Literary Supplement,October 25, 2006. Available:
http://tls.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25347-2421372,00.html
of childhood sexual abuse who said that they had repressed
2 FMS Foundation Newsletter NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 Vol. 15 No. 6
Aaron T. Beck, M.D., Receives household names like Sigmund New Complaint About False
LaskerAward Freud.” Memory Research
Two studies published this sum-
FMSF Advisor Aaron Beck, M.D. Soon to appear are a series of arti-
mer demonstrate the effectiveness of
has been chosen as a 2006 recipient of cles discussing the methods by which
cognitive therapy in another new area:
the Lasker Award for Clinical Medical researchers have been studying false
Somatization Disorder, a condition in
Research. The annual awards are given memories. Kathy Pezdek and Shirley
which patients suffer from unexplained
for “stunning” achievement in basic Lam [1] claim that researchers have
physical symptoms.[1, 2] The problem is
and clinical research in medicine and misused the term “false memory,” have
extremely frustrating for both patients
have often been likened to Nobel used the wrong methodologies to study
and doctors. It is also expensive: one
Prizes. A $100,000 honorarium is false memories and that they have mis-
study found that such patients “incur
given with the award. applied their conclusions to real world
medical expenses that are six to 14
Dr. Beck has transformed the treat- situations. They argue that the term
times higher than the national aver-
ment of depression and many other “false memory,” as introduced by
age.”[3]
mental health conditions with the Loftus in 1992, referred to the specific
According to Arthur Barsky, a pro-
development of “Cognitive therapy.” situation of planting a memory for an
fessor of psychiatry at Harvard
The chairman of the Lasker jury, Dr. entirely new event. They surveyed the
Medical School and an expert on this
Joseph Goldstein said that cognitive literature and found that most research
problem, most experts believe that the
therapy “is one of the most important examined flawed memories, not the
patients have histories of childhood
advances—if not the most important implanting of a new event. The authors
physical or sexual abuse or other trau-
advance—in the treatment of mental argue that flawed memories and false
ma. But Barsky questions: “Childhood
diseases in the last 50 years.” memories are not the same phenome-
experiences are presumably important,
When patients are treated with non, “nor are identical cognitive
but there are no good data” about their
cognitive therapy they learn to “head processes likely to underlie the two.”
effect. (Some patients whose doctors
off or defuse self-defeating thoughts Listed under false memory research
believe the problem stems from child
before acting on them.” The Lasker have been studies in source monitor-
abuse have been subjected to memory
jury said that Dr. Beck had set a new ing, intrusion errors, post-event sug-
exhuming.) A major obstacle in treat-
standard for determining the effective- gestion and social beliefs. Pezdek and
ing these patients has been their lack of
ness of any type of psychotherapy. Lam claim that these are studies of
insight into their own problems.
Cognitive therapy has been studied in flawed memories and the results
Cognitive therapy apparently helps
clinical settings more rigorously than should not be generalized to implanted
patients develop this insight and gain
any other form of therapy. Many psy- “memories” in child sexual abuse
some control over the symptoms so
chiatrists, however, have resisted or cases.
that they show improvement in their
even rejected the findings. Kimberly Wade and colleagues
functioning.
Dr. Beck, 85, has been at the responded to the Pezdek and Lam
Goldstein, J. (2006, September 17). Penn psy-
University of Pennsylvania for more paper. Wade et al. found that it is
chiatrist to be honored today.Philadelphia
than 40 years. He began developing “common practice in the field of cog-
Inquirer,1.
cognitive therapy when he found that 1. Allen, L.A., et al. (2006, July 24). nitive psychology to use the term ‘false
Freudian theories did not explain what Cognitive-Behavioral therapy for Somatization memory’to describe to a wide range of
Disorder.Archives of Internal Medicine, 166
was going on with depressed patients. episodic memory distortions” and it
(14).
When he began his research with cog- has been used in that way at least since
2. Smith, R.C. et al. (2006, July). Primary care
nitive therapy in the 1950s, he set out clinicians treat patients with medically unex- the mid-1970s. Thus, it is not reason-
to prove that anger turned against the plained symptoms: Arandomized controlled able to claim that researchers have not
self played a central role in depression, trial. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 21 been studying the term as it was origi-
(7), 671.
When he tested his theories against nally intended. Pezdek and Lam’s def-
3. Boodman. S.G. (2006, August 29). Why
real patients, however, Beck found that inition appears to be unique.
does it still hurt, Doc?. Washington Post.
depressed patients were not angry at Retrieved from www.washingtonpost.com/ Wade et al. discuss the problems of
others but “tended to see themselves in wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/28/ distinguishing between “memory
AR2006082800784.html on August 29, 2006.
very negative ways... as losers.” flaws” and “false memories.” They
c
Peter Levendusky, director of psy- note problems in the research cited by
chology at Harvard University’s Pezdek and Lam and suggest that
“Memory is deceptive because it is col-
McLean Hospital, commented that in although making such a distinction is a
ored by today’s events.”
mental health Beck is “only rivaled by Albert Einstein worthy goal, they provide neither crite-
FMS Foundation Newsletter NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 Vol. 15 No. 6 3
ria that could be operationalized nor press). False claims about false memory research. cially 1) incomplete encoding and 2)
Consciousness and Cognition.(2006),
sound theoretical reasoning. Wade et ordinary forgetfulness.
doi:10.1016/j.concog.2006.07.001.
al. argue that it seems unhelpful “to 3. Pezdek, K. (In press). It’s just not good science. Incomplete encoding refers to the
distinguish between false memories Consciousness and Cognition. (2006), fact that under situations of stress and
doi:10.1016/j.concog.2006.05.006
and memory flaws on the basis of how trauma, one may remember important
much new information they contain.” In the spirit of full disclosure: This parts of an event at the expense of
Wade et al. also address the com- writer’s personal experience with Kathy other, less important parts. The classic
Pezdek suggests that she has a strong bias
plaint about generalizing research example is that you can remember a
onthe subject of recovered repressed mem-
such as in misinformation experiments man pointing a gun at you, but cannot
ories. Readers can evaluate her comments
to real world settings. The authors remember what the man's face looked
from a 1993 radio interview whose tran-
remark that this can be a concern with like—because your attention was
script is available at: http://www.vuw.
any laboratory research. They note that focused entirely on the gun.
ac.nz/psyc/staff/maryannegarry/index.aspx
scientists agree: “[I]f the study has In the references of the Pezdek Incomplete encoding is normal, but
strict experimental control, that is high response, the following were listed as the this is not the same thing as forgetting
internal validity, and addresses basic authors of “False claims about false mem- an entire traumatic event; you will
theoretical questions, then it makes lit- ory research: Wade, K.A., Sharman, S.J., never forget that you had a gun point-
Garry, M., Memon, A., Mazzoni, G.,
tle difference whether it is conducted ed at you. In other words, there is
Merckelbach, H., et al. It is strange that all
in the laboratory or in the field… excellent scientific consensus that
the authors except Elizabeth Loftus are
demonstrating phenomena across a incomplete encoding occurs, but no
mentioned. Loftus is the only et al.
variety of settings strengthens the evi- consensus that amnesia for an entire
dence for those phenomena.” c traumatic event can occur.
Troubling New Paper:
Pezdek has the last word. [3] She Dalenberg confuses these two phe-
Purveying Beliefs that
reiterates that there are two definitions nomena. For example, in her second
Have Harmed Others
of false memories. The phrase can be bullet point in the article, she states “a
Dalenberg, C. (2006). Recovered memory
used for memories of an entirely new large body of research with animal and
and the Daubert criteria: Recovered
event that never occurred or it can be human participants has documented
memory as professionally tested, peer
used for changes in details of an impairment of memory after periods of
reviewed, and accepted in the relevant
observed event. Pezdek says that it is great stress and fear.” That statement
scientific community. Trauma, Violence &
bad science to use the same term for of course is true—as illustrated by the
Abuse, 7(4), 274-310.
both. example of remembering the gun but
Constance Dalenberg’s new paper
We doubt anyone would argue that not remembering the assailant's face.
argues that people who have recovered
the term “false memories” has been But it does not follow that any of this
memories of past abuse should be
used as Pezdek describes, but does that research has documented that someone
allowed to testify in court. There are
make the use “bad science”? The can be unable to remember an entire
two major conceptual flaws in the arti-
world is full of superordinate and sub- traumatic event, as opposed to simply
cle, however, that lead the reader
ordinate categories. For example, fruit failing to encode a piece of it.
astray. The first is the failure to explic-
is a word that encompasses pears, Dalenberg is misleading the reader by
itly define terms. For legal purposes,
apples, bananas, etc., the subordinate implying that scientific consensus on
the question is whether there is scien-
categories. ‘False memories’ is a the first issue is equivalent to scientif-
tific evidence for the hypothesis that
superordinate category. Superordinate ic consensus on the second issue.
one could experience a major traumat-
and subordinate categories are useful Now consider the issue of ordinary
ic event (such as childhood sexual
depending on the purpose. It is not forgetfulness. Although not a techni-
abuse), then be unable to remember
uncommon to refer to things by their cally defined scientific term, this refers
that entire event for a period of time,
superordinate category, but no one has to the fact that memories gradually
and then be able to “recover” the mem-
ever said that doing so is “bad sci- fade over time, especially for events
ory later. In the article, Dalenberg
ence.” that are not perceived as profoundly
appears to refer to this phenomenon as
1. Pezdek, K., Lam. S. (In press). What research important. Then, at some later point,
paradigms have cognitive psychologists used to “traumatic amnesia” followed by
something reminds us of the event and
study “False memory,” and what are the implica- “recovered memory.” However, upon
tions of these choices? Consciousness and it comes back to mind. For example,
reading the article in more detail, it is
Cognition.(2005). most people have ordinary forgetful-
doi:10.1016/j.concog.2005.06.006) clear that she is mixing together sever-
ness for their experiences in second
2. Wade, K.A., Sharman, S.J., Garry,M., Memon,
al other phenomena, including espe-
A., Mazzoni, G., Merckelbach, H., Loftus, E.F. (In grade—but if they stop to think about
4
FMS Foundation Newsletter NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 Vol. 15 No. 6
it for a while, they can probably recall The second major conceptual flaw
Woman Sues Christian-Based
anumber of details from second grade, in the Dalenberg paper—and one that
Pastoral Counseling Service for
such as the name of their teacher, vari- also misleads the reader in a subtle
False Memories of Satanic Abuse
ous incidents that occurred, etc. They way—is the implication that scientific
Donna Marie Krahn, 46, is suing
may even recall a traumatic event, consensus on specific aspects of mem-
the Elijah House in Canada, and Steve
where perhaps they were humiliated in ory research translates into scientific
Oglevie Biblical Counseling in Idaho,
front of the class because their desk consensus on “traumatic amnesia.”
alleging that counselors Brian and
was dirty, or because they couldn't For example, looking at yet another
Della Headley and Stephen Oglevie
answer a question. But obviously, this bullet point, Dalenberg states that
treated her with techniques such as
is not “traumatic amnesia” in which an “consensual acceptance of mecha-
dream interpretation and mind-control
individual is literally unable to remem- nisms for recovered memory are found
deprogramming (i.e. hypnosis). As a
ber an entire traumatic event; it is just in the experimental literature, includ-
result, she came to believe that she had
ordinary forgetfulness. Once again, ing research on directed forgetting, for-
been physically, sexually and satani-
scientists would certainly agree that getting after emotional constriction,
cally ritually abused by her husband
ordinary forgetfulness, with later and state dependent learning research.”
and members of her family and others.
recovery of the memory, can happen Dalenberg is of course correct that
The complaint says that the
all the time; however there is no con- there is general acceptance of many
Headleys and Oglevie encouraged
sensus that individuals can be rendered findings in these areas—but it does not
Krahn to isolate herself from her fami-
unable to remember a traumatic event follow that a consensus on various
ly and children. Krahn claims that the
and then later “recover” the memory. memory mechanisms translates into a
treatment compromised her capacity to
Once again, Dalenberg is misleading consensus that people could become
parent her seven children, and, as a
the reader by implying that scientific unable to remember an entire traumat-
result, she lost custody in the ensuing
consensus on the first issue is equiva- ic event. For example, there is exten-
divorce.
lent to scientific consensus on the sec- sive research using imaging of the
Details of Donna Krahn’s treat-
ond. brain to see what areas “light up” when
ment are described in the Krahns'
By way of illustration, let us look people recall traumatic events as
Divorce Judgment in 2001,[1] written
again at one of Dalenberg’s bullet opposed to recalling neutral events.
by Justice R.A. McKinnon. The Justice
points, where she states that “dozens of One might speculate, on the basis of
wrote:
major psychological organizations these imaging findings, how, hypothet-
across the country and across the globe ically, some mechanism could occur “Although I am concerned about
have acknowledged the phenomenon whereby the brain might perhaps be damaging the reputation of well-
of recovered memory.” Certainly it is able to develop amnesia for a traumat- meaning people, it is clear on the evi-
true that groups such as the American ic event. These speculations may be dence that I accept, that Mr. and Mrs.
Headley and Mr. Oglevie hold
Psychological Association have stated interesting, but they do not in any
unorthodox views. It is also clear that,
that it is possible to forget childhood sense translate as a scientific consen-
however well meaning, they engage in
events, including even traumatic sus that people actually can develop
“therapy” that is potentially harmful
events, and later remember them. But amnesia for traumatic events. In short,
to those affected.”
of course that is not synonymous with even though there is a consensus on the
“It is evident from the brochures
having amnesia, where one is literally imaging findings per se, there is no
and records that neither of the thera-
unable to remember the event for a consensus that people could actually
pists had any appreciable qualifica-
block of time, and then later “recover” develop amnesia for an entire traumat-
tions to provide counseling and cer-
the memory. ic event. Once again, Dalenberg is mis-
tainly neither were in a position to
In short, much of Dalenberg’s leading the reader by implying that sci-
assess or diagnose serious psychiatric
paper is rendered almost uninter- entific consensus on the first issue is illnesses such as “dissociation” or
pretable because of the fact that wide- equivalent to scientific consensus on Dissociative Identity Disorder. It is
ly accepted phenomena, such as the second. evident from the outset that they in
incomplete encoding and ordinary for- c fact delved into early childhood expe-
getfulness, are intermingled with non- riences, emotional development, sexu-
“The past is malleable and flexi- al development, and relationship
accepted phenomena, such as the theo-
ble, changing as our recollection issues.... Although the director of the
ry of “traumatic amnesia” in which one
interprets and re-explains what has Elijah House asserts they did not
would be literally unable to remember
happened.” engage in “recovered memory thera-
an entire traumatic event.
py,” it is certainly evident from the
Peter Berger
5
FMS Foundation Newsletter NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 Vol. 15 No. 6
sparse notes I have reviewed that discovering your authentic self, gener- in law enforcement to whom that hap-
indeed themes of abuse were dis- ational healing, prenatal wounding, pened, but most, such as Ken Lanning
cussed and further Donna did develop healing for abandonment, and healing changed their minds because of the
recovered memories of rather extraor-
for invalidation.” lack of evidence.)
dinary abuse as a child. It is further
Stephen Oglevie is a retired law- Oglevie still gives seminars for
evident that her sisters noted a decid-
enforcement chaplain who has been therapists. In an announcement for a 3-
ed change in her personality and func-
obsessed with mind control program- day Mind Control Programming
tioning and expressed concerns to her
ming and satanism for many years. He Seminar ($480) given in July 2006 in
and to the therapists as to their percep-
tions and concerns. These were reject- portrays himself as an expert in the Salt Lake City posted on the web,[2] he
ed by the therapists.” area of satanic ritual abuse and states:
Some of the bizarre things in repressed-memory syndrome. He fre-
“I am not a ritual abuse survivor,
which Mrs. Krahn came to believe quently conducts week-long depro-
but I am privileged to work with those
were that she had 500 alternate person- gramming sessions in Idaho for
who are survivors. Most of these have
alities and that both her family and her patients referred to him by other thera- grown up in multi-generational cult
husband’s families were members of pists. In 1992 when he had recently families so their abuse and program-
transgenerational satanic and witch moved to Idaho, he was quoted exten- ming began very early in childhood.
craft cults. She also believed that she sively in a Los Angeles Times ... These mind-control systems are
had memories of prenatal wounding in Magazine article about satanic implanted in the mind while undergo-
ing very systematic physical, medical,
her own mother’s womb where she beliefs.[1]Oglevie expressed belief that
spiritual, and psychological abuse.
had met her biological twin who had satanists had gained power in many
died at birth. Justice McKinnon noted: government institutions. He appears to “I have discovered that there are
have become a believer in the exis- four basic elements to ritual abuse that
“Instead of exercising prudence and
need to be addressed in order for
tence of satanic cults during the period
caution, the counselors seem to have
recovery to take place: 1) Memories
of McMartin and the other day care
encouraged the elaboration of these
of Trauma, 2) Dissociation/
memories and in fact encouraged her cases. (Oglevie is not the only person
Multiplicity, 3) Teaching and Training
to further attend Mr. Oglevie in
and 4) Conditioning. These can all be
Idaho...” “The experts say that some of
resolved at the cognitive level, but all
1. Krahn v Krahn,2001BCSC1186 (CanLII), (2001- the more extravagant responses to
four can be controlled by a fifth ele-
08-16) Docket: E1212. satanism arise from the universal
ment, that of mind-control program-
Fraser,K. (2006, October 12). B.C. woman suing
human fears it evokes—fears of
over alleged false memories. Times Colonist ming of which the client may or may
(Victoria, BC), A6. blood rituals, murder, cannibalism, not be aware. This seminar will
c vampirism and death. But at least a address this fifth element.
Who Are the Counselors in the few of the responses appear to arise
“I have spent the last twelve years
Krahn Suit? from more calculated human impuls-
removing mind-control systems in
es. ‘Some are using this for other
According to sources found on the over 375 persons...”
agendas,’is how the psychiatrist [Dr.
Web, Brian and Della Headley are now For additional details about the Krahn
Richard] Worst puts it. ‘I don’t
the leaders of “The Listening Prayer case the the therapists involved see:
believe in Satan. I believe in
Community” in Mission, BC. http://www.lyingspirits.com/news200
sociopaths. I believe in clever,
Previously they worked at Elijah 6.html#lawsuit
manipulative sociopaths [therapists]
House Canada. Elijah House is the 1. Siegel, B. (1992, May 17). Idaho Gothic. Los
who have found another way to get
ministry of John and Paula Sandford. Angeles Times Magazine. (available at www.maryel-
victims, to break vulnerable, inade- lenmark.com/text/magazines/la_times/216O.html ).
In an article in the May/June 2006
2. http://truthbeknown2000.tripod.com/Truth
quate people’s defenses, to manipu-
FMSF Newsletter, Eunice Campbell beknown2000/id23.html
late them, usually for sex. There are
explained that the Sandfords had been c
those who do believe in Satan,
influenced by the “Inner Healing” of Does Australia Have ARitual Abuse
though, and for them, here it is. This
Agnes White Sanford, the major influ- and Torture Problem:
is a tool. this raises them up, enlarges
ence within the Christian counseling Review of a New Report
them. This gives them a cause, a cru-
community for belief in the need to
sade.’” In April 2006, the group
exhume memories. The Listening
Siegel, B. (1992, May 17). Idaho Gothic. Los Advocates for Survivors of Child
Prayer Community website lists a
Angeles Times Magazine. (available at Abuse (ASCA) published the report
seminar that includes: “Discovering www.maryellenmark.com/text/magazines/la_ti
“Ritual Abuse & Torture in Australia”
the family style and family baggage, mes/216O.html )
6
FMS Foundation Newsletter NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 Vol. 15 No. 6
that can be found on the web at: Briggs and O’Neill are intentionally that the abusers are “mothers, fathers,
http://www.tfyqa.biz/images/pdfs/broc making such a degrading reference to relatives, friends, neighbors, and pro-
hure_ritualabuse_2006.pdf.[1] Funding the FMSF? Or do you suppose that fessionals… The victims of ritual
for the report was a Victims of Violent Briggs and O’Neill are just muddled? abuse are the sons, daughters, nieces,
Crimes grant from the New South Not surprisingly, the report itself is nephews, grandchildren, or foster chil-
Wales Department of Corrective extremely muddled. It says, dren of perpetrators…The one factor
Services. The authors identify them- “Advocates of FMS generally deny [the victims] have in common is a set
selves as ASCAmembers from around that adults may forget, and then of traumatic symptoms so severe that
Australia and write that the purpose of remember, traumatic events from their they have been compared to Holocaust
the report was to review the existing childhood…” Does any reader of this survivors and prisoners of war…”
research evidence and to compile per- newsletter know any FMS proponent A telling page in the report is
sonal experiences of ritual abuse and who makes such a claim? Indeed, titled: “Why aren’t more perpetrators
torture. The authors state that they advocates of FMS do say that people caught?” The answers include the
hope that the report will “bring a new may forget and later remember an assertion that the “neuropsychology of
perspective on ritual abuse and torture event. That is ordinary memory. extreme trauma” makes victims unable
to those professionals and policy mak- People forget all kinds of things and to provide detailed disclosures; The
ers whose support is crucial in expos- then remember them. They forget shame, terror and guilt of victims
ing the full extent of ritual abuse in some things that they will never keeps them silent; The police are not
Australia.” remember. And they may also think looking for the perpetrators; and ritual-
Freda Briggs, a prominent that they remember some things that ly abusive perpetrators have demon-
Australian expert in child develop- may have no basis in history. That is strated a preference for torture tech-
ment, and psychologist Marie O’Neill, the nature of memory.The concerns of niques, such as electrocution and near-
wrote a foreword to the report. After FMS proponents are the claims that drowning, which do not leave a mark.
congratulating ASCA “for producing there is some special mechanism of One can have sympathy for the
this important paper,” they write: memory that operates only in some writers of the report because of their
“Although there are more than six mil- traumatic situations. The body of the naivete in understanding what quali-
lion documents on the Internet report, in fact, refers heavily to the fies as evidence and for a lack of expe-
addressing the issue of ritual abuse, special magical qualities of traumatic rience in evaluating the quality of
few take as fair and comprehensive memories. sources. The writers do not claim to be
approach as this; many of the writings The body of the report is a muddle professionals. Professionals would
deny the existence of ritual abuse of various types of organized ritual surely understand that the following is
despite masses of evidence to the con- abuse and torture: e.g. groups respon- not evidence of the existence of ritual
trary. As a consequence, some victims sible for the sexual trafficking of abuse: “[T]he degree of disability
are persistently re-abused psychologi- women and children, groups of associated with a history of ritual
cally by having to deal with the fact pornography rings, terrorist groups, abuse is so high that it argues against
that organized abusers, their defenders and satanic groups. It is a muddle of any ‘confabulated’ origin.”
and even police refute their realities reality and invention. By grouping Professionals would not rely on self-
and dismiss their reports as fantasy or some situations about which there is published web articles or from person-
mental illness.” no disagreement with those for which al reports in non-peer reviewed books
Who are the “organized abusers” there is no evidence, the naive reader for proof of existence of ritual abuse.
to whom the writers refer? Are there can be drawn in. References need to be checked careful-
not mandated reporting laws in The heart of the report is about ly. For example, the authors cited a
Australia? Why are these groups not satanic ritual abuse as we have come to 1994 paper by Robert Rockwell as one
named so that the police can investi- know it since the appearance of source that there really is ritual abuse.
gate them? Can anyone truly conceive Michele Remembers. By associating Obviously the writers did not know
that there are “defenders” of organized the old beliefs with terrorist groups that Rockwell was forced to surrender
abusers? Do the writers truly believe and a new name, they are meant to his license to practice medicine
that the police are so witless? The only seem more respectable. Rather than because of ethical violations.[2]
group in the body of the report men- mention the criminals and the Another example of a problem is a
tioned as challenging the claims of sur- unscrupulous greedy people who have paper cited by Young, Sachs, Braun
vivors is the False Memory Syndrome looked the other way so that real sex and Watkins. Not only have Sachs and
Foundation. Do you suppose that trafficking can operate, this report says Braun had many lawsuits filed against
FMS Foundation Newsletter NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 Vol. 15 No. 6 7
them because of their practices of In 1999, Mullinar opened for child sexual assault. Mayumarri
recovering memories, Walter Young Mayumarri, a Christian healing center received more than $1 million between
has greatly revised his opinions on to help victims of abuse. 2003 and 2005 of which half was from
these matters. There are huge problems Unfortunately, there have been many government grants.
with the references. serious problems with the running of At present there are no require-
The ASCA report is extremely this center. Over the years, at least ments for counselors or therapists or
weak. Because it was funded by the seven complaints were lodged with persons running ‘healing’ workshops
government, however, because it has government authorities, many of them to have qualifications. The New South
the support of ASCA, because it has by former staff. Among the agencies Wales government intends to get
the endorsement of prominent where the complaints were filed were tougher on alternative healers.
researchers, and because on the sur- the police, the Health Department, and Guilliatt noted that “psychiatrists and
face it appears to be well documented, Department of Family and Community other health professionals have been
readers with no background in the sub- Services. The complaints alleged dan- lobbying for such regulation for years,
ject may take it seriously. gerous and bizarre practices such as but the cost and complexity scares
1. See Beneath the Radar in this issue for the drug-taking, sexual indiscretions by politicians away.”
history of ASCA. staff, and negligence toward the chil- 1. Guilliatt, R. (2006, September 23). The untouch-
2. See FMSF Newsletter, 7(8), December. ables. Australia Magazine.
dren under care. One complaint noted
c 2. ASCA’s financial statements are available on its
that exorcisms were performed on website.
Beneath the Radar staff. c
Perhaps recovered memory beliefs One couple employed at the LOSTIN THERAPY
continue to flourish within large seg- Center spoke out this year: “We had Part 1-How I got into therapy
relocated to dedicate our lives to help-
ments of the Christian counseling
In 1990, when I was in my early
ing the place, only to find it was an
community because the practices take
20s, my brother was in treatment for
absolute lie. I left there saying I’d
place beneath the radar of ordinary
alcoholism. During a Family Week
never met such un-Christian people in
regulations. In September, Australian
visit with him, a counselor suggested
my life.” This couple was also dis-
investigative journalist Richard
that I go to Adult Children of
turbed because many people undergo-
Guilliatt documented a situation in
Alcoholics (ACOA) meetings. I began
ing the Center’s healing program were
that country demonstrating how diffi-
attending those meetings, but only a
‘recovering’ memories that were very
cult it can be to hold unlicensed “heal-
few months later,astranger broke into
similar to Mullinar’s. No action was
ers” accountable for the harm they
my apartment and raped me. I was
taken on any of the complaints
have done.[1]
overwhelmed by this crisis and joined
because, as Guilliatt observed:
In 1993, prominent Australian
a rape survivor’s support group. I
“Mayumarri operates in a regulatory
show business casting agent Liz
stopped the ACOAmeetings.
void. Mullinar and her volunteer staff
Mullinar, while under hypnosis by an
I attended the rape survivor’s
have no medical qualifications, so they
“aura reader,” believed that she had
group for several years until I felt that
work outside the jurisdiction of med-
recovered memories of being raped by
I had worked through the crisis of the
ical boards and healthcare regulators.
a doctor at the age of five. She soon
rape. In 1990, I decided that I wanted
It’s an issue causing increasing con-
left the entertainment industry and
to delve deeper into some problems
cern as alternative healers proliferate
formed a lobby group called
that I had had before the rape, namely
and religious organizations snare an
Advocates For Survivors of Child
promiscuity and depression. I talked
increasing share of government wel-
Abuse (ASCA). (This is the organiza-
about this with other members of the
fare money.”
tion that recently released the report
rape survivor’s group, and one sug-
Liz Mullinar’s view of the causes
about satanic ritual abuse in Australia.)
gested going to a psychiatrist she knew
of the complaints is quite different.
With her many connections in the
at a highly regarded hospital in the
She denied arranging for an exorcism
entertainment industry, Mullinar was
city. She was being treated at the hos-
and views the complaints as a result of
able to raise millions of dollars
pital for “blocked out” memories of
disgruntled employees. Areview by an
through private and government fund-
child sexual abuse and thought maybe
independent group, however, deter-
ing, and she was able to obtain a great
that her doctor could help me deter-
mined that Mayumarri was working
amount of publicity for her new cause
mine if blocked memories could be my
outside accepted International Society
of combating child abuse. ASCA
problem. My friend told me that the
of Study of Dissociation guidelines
became a high-profile child abuse lob-
doctor had used hypnosis and sodium
and mandatory reporting requirements
bying group. [2]
8 FMS Foundation Newsletter NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 Vol. 15 No. 6
amytal to help find the memories, and involved talking about my feelings and The doctor and my therapist hyp-
she said that my problems of past thoughts and then “sand box” therapy. notized me, but no repressed memories
promiscuity and relationship problems I was supposed to make something came out. The doctor became angry at
sounded like symptoms of child sexual with the sand, and the figures in the me and accused me of being manipula-
abuse. I was open to the possibility, sandbox were supposed to reveal the tive. That really frightened me. I could
because I didn’t understand why I had things I had repressed. not understand why she would be
issues with promiscuity in the past, and I didn’t come up with any angry unless she knew I was repressing
I wanted to know if child sexual abuse repressed memories working in the something or she knew I was being
that had been repressed could be my sand. The therapists suggested I attend manipulative. I trusted her judgment.
problem. I did not question the credi- their therapy groups for people with After all, she was the doctor and I was
bility of the doctor because she worked Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), the patient. It never occurred to me that
at a hospital with a good reputation. I since they believed I had Dissociative she could be misleading me. I was in a
had never been to a psychiatrist Disorder (a less severe but related reputable hospital in a big city.
before, and I really believed it could be diagnosis). I agreed, because I believed The doctor threatened to send me
beneficial to me. It never occurred to their diagnosis of me. I was now con- home if I didn’t recover a repressed
me that the doctor might not be look- vinced that I had blocked out feelings memory during the next hypnosis ses-
ing out for my best interests or that I from my past and that is what I thought sion. During the next session, I told
could be in any danger of harm. I my diagnosis entailed. them I had a memory of my dad sexu-
called the doctor and made an appoint- I was shocked at how many MPD ally abusing me. I think that “memory”
ment. patients were talking about their came from confusion about trusting
repressed memories. It really made me that my therapist and the doctor both
Part 2: What happened in “thera-
want to know even more if I had believed I was blocking out sexual
py”
repressed memories. During this time, abuse from childhood and that if I had
At the first of my three years of
the psychiatrist told me I could be the image of the sexual abuse in my
appointments, I told the doctor that I
putting myself in danger if I kept con- mind, then that must be the “memory.”
thought I may have blocked out some
tact with my family,so I cut offcontact It never occurred to me that the thera-
memories of child sexual abuse and
with them. I totally trusted the psychi- pist and doctor might be wrong when
that I wanted to find out through hyp-
atrist and did what she suggested. they said that I had been sexually
notism whether or not that was true.
By now,Iwas desperate to learn if abused, but didn’t remember it. They
She asked lots of questions and had me
I had repressed any memories so I believed it. I wanted to know if it was
make “finger signals” as a way to
asked the psychiatrist to hypnotize me. true and possibly the cause of my feel-
answer questions. Certain movements
She said that I would need to be hospi- ings of depression and trouble in
were answers to her questions. She
talized in case I had a severe reaction. romantic relationships. It was then that
asked questions about whether or not I
I understood that rationale as other I started believing my thoughts were
had been sexually abused as a child. I
people in the group had talked about the memories.
think that I answered these questions
being hospitalized for this. I was During the next few years, the
with finger signals. I did what the doc-
admitted to a locked unit on the psy- Dissociative Disorders groups became
tor asked, because she was the profes-
chiatric floor of the hospital. Needless a Dissociative Disorders Program.
sional. I moved my fingers in a way to
to say, I was with very mentally ill peo- Things got worse for me. The thera-
indicate that maybe I had been sexual-
ple there, and it was frightening. I had pists suggested that I quit my job and
ly abused. I told her that I thought per-
never been treated or diagnosed with go on Social Security Disability so that
haps my father had done something to
any mental illness prior to this. My I could do more therapy without so
me sexually. Then she asked me:
mother, brother and sister had a history much stress. I did what they suggested
“Have you considered that maybe all
of chemical dependency, but other than with a lot of encouragement and
of the members of your family abused
that, no one very close to me had any coaching from other group members
you?” I felt shocked at the question.
experience with mental illness. I felt who had done the same thing. I lis-
After the initial session, the doctor
afraid and alone. My family didn’t tened to others in the groups talk about
assigned me to individual therapy with
know I was in the hospital. The doctor uncovering repressed memories of
a therapist under her supervision who
had told me to get a second opinion if being members, victims and perpetra-
would follow up on the blocked out
Idoubted her, but at that point, I didn’t tors in satanic cults. It was terrifying.
memories. I began regular appoint-
understand that a doctor could be Another group member suggested my
ments with the therapist. The sessions
wrong. I did not get a second opinion. strong fears probably indicated I had
FMS Foundation Newsletter NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 Vol. 15 No. 6 9
repressed memories of satanic cults as choice but to stay. I often said I doubt- ever felt in my life, and I had gone
well. In my effort to rule it out, I asked ed the memories and that they didn’t through some tough times before this.
for additional hypnosis treatments. I feel real to me. I often told them I felt Ifelt really alone. I wasn’t fully under-
was again hospitalized and any like I was making it all up. Instead of stood by the therapists, and I was dis-
thoughts that came to me I assumed validating my concern, they became connected from almost everyone in my
were memories. I admitted to terrible angry and insisted I was in denial or past. I had lost confidence in my abili-
things such as cannibalism and child trying to manipulate them. Bottom ty to provide for myself financially
molestation and child murder. I had line, I put all my trust in them. because I believed I had this mental ill-
heard others talk of these things and I ness. The worst was believing I had
Part 3: How I was able to leave
read the books they suggested. My other alters that I was unaware of who
therapy
mind was swimming in these thoughts were hurtful. Every time I presented
There seemed no place else to go
of satanic abuse and I believed that with an uncomfortable feeling about
for help. We were in Omaha and the
they were real memories. these concerns that I wanted to work
therapists told us the closest therapists
My quality of life was terrible. I through, I was told there must be an
who could help us were in Chicago.
was filled with remorse and horror alter that I was not aware of. I actually
Although I had wanted to leave very
much of the time. I often felt sick to was yelled at in the group setting,
much on many occasions because of
my stomach and could not eat. I lost “‘Susan’, get out of the way!” in refer-
the emotional pain I was experiencing,
weight because of all the stress, but the ence to demanding that I let my other
I stayed as month after month became
psychiatrist accused me of having an alters “out” in the group for therapy.
three years. I stayed because I was ter-
alter that was trying to starve me. The Ifinally reached a point of trusting
rified of having this mental illness that
groups were verbally and emotionally myself that something was terribly
could not be treated successfully. The
abusive. One time a therapist called me wrong. After three years, I saw no pos-
clear message was that I would remain
a“nasty bitch”. Some of the group ses- itive results in myself or others.
unaware of my other alters and their
sions lasted all day long. Frequently, Logically, it did not make sense that
behavior, and I would continue to hurt
hours were spent talking to one person people would go into treatment and
others and myself in heinous ways if I
about how they were not being honest actually feel worse. I wasn’t100% cer-
left these therapists. So I remained in
with the group about what their other tain that the therapy was wrong, but I
Omaha. I really believed I had to stay
alters were doing. It was terrifying, had enough doubt that I left.
there for treatment (unless I moved to
because it was believed the alters were I was terrified even when I left.
Chicago for treatment), if I did not
child molesters, killers, Satanists, etc. What if I was wrong and I would go on
want to engage in criminal behavior
Once I panicked and started saying to hurt people and not know it? Still, I
and have a miserable life.
whatever came to my head because I left, and contacted another patient who
The irony was that I had never
was so afraid of the danger I could be had left before I left. She was the same
been so miserable in my life as I was
putting people in. I blurted out how I person who referred me to the therapy
when I was there. It finally dawned on
wanted to hurt my boyfriend, and they in the beginning. We began talking
me after about three years, that most
called the security guards and put me about our shared concerns that the
other patients in the groups left the
in the locked unit of the hospital again. therapy was harmful. Things started to
treatment after being frustrated with
I did not have a big support system at feel better, but I suffered panic attacks
what was happening. When I had first
all since I had no contact with anyone for the first time in my life as I tried to
started therapy there were about 30
outside of the therapy. My family did resume a normal life and return to
people in the groups. At the end of the
not know where I was. The night I was work. I found another psychiatrist who
three years there were only about 6-10
put in the hospital, my boyfriend was validated that the treatment I had
who were there consistently. The few
frightened because he didn’t know received was harmful to me, and she
people who remained did not appear to
why I had not come home. I was not helped with my panic attacks and some
be progressing in their personal lives.
allowed to call him until the next day. therapy sessions. Slowly, I began to
They were still very troubled, even if
I remained there, because I was rebuild my life.
they had returned to school or work.
terrified of hurting someone without “Susan”
They did not seem to be any happier
being conscious of my other personali- Tobe continued: Rebuilding My Life
than they were when I first met them.
ties and because I was afraid I was and Reconciling With My Family
One young woman killed herself.
completely insane. They told me that
After three years, I realized that I
there was no one close who could help. “In memory’s telephoto lens, far
was actually feeling the worst I had
They were the elite. I felt I had no objects are magnified.” John Updike
10 FMS Foundation Newsletter NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 Vol. 15 No. 6