Survivor Psychology: The Dark Side of a Mental Health Mission

Susan Smith, a journalist and counselor, has worked extensively with victims of real sexual abuse-which is why she is so alarmed at the prevalence of false memories of abuse brought on by "survivor psychology." In her book Survivor Psychology, Smith details her interviews, in which she delves inside the minds of scores of therapists who claim to be experts on diagnosing "repressed memories." The findings are disturbing. Naivete about situational dynamics, emotional manipulation, and the power and influence of authority is endemic to the sample. Smith's research reveals that the problems of scientific illiteracy and therapeutic incompetence are widespread. "I believe that memories can be stored in the tissues of the body," one therapist tells the author. "And sometimes people will begin to have symptomatology around their bodies before they have cognitive memories. The body remembers when the mind can't." Smith reveals in her book that survivor psychology is based on myth, superstition, folklore and folk psychology, and incorporates powerful persuasion techniques, sales psychology and aggressive therapeutic modalities.