Recollections of Sexual Abuse: Treatment Principles and Guidelines

by Christine A. Courtois

Book Overview

Since the eruption of the recovered memory controversy in 1992, the treatment of adults who report abuse as children (whether their memory has been relatively continuous or has been recovered) has become a high-risk area, as numerous lawsuits have been filed alleging false memory of abuse due to suggestive therapeutic practices. In this climate, clinicians have become fearful, cautious, and confused about how to practice responsibly with this population...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393702812
• ISBN13: 9780393702811
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 2.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

the essential guide for clinicians

This volume provides evidence-based clinical guidance for therapists working with clients who have been sexually abused. It offers clear, unambiguous guidelines for responsibly managing clients' disclosures of recollections of sexual abuse as well as treatment principles for working with this population. If I could I would give this book 100 stars-- it is truly the best, most authoritative guide to helping and not hurting clients. It offers context and scientific analysis concerning the false memory/recovered memory controversies of the last two decades, the emerging consensus about sexual abuse treatment, and risk management issues in assessment and treatment. This volume is one I strongly encourage every clinician to read and keep handy. Also highly recommended: Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy.

a wonderful guide for professionals

It was from Courtois' first book, "Healing the Incest Wound" (1988) that I got my basic training in working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse just after it came out. This later book is a wonderful companion to her earlier work. Courtois continues to develop her professional expertise and incorporate changes in societal awareness and ability to come to terms with the sheer numbers of sexually traumatized individuals in its midst. If you want a clear and thorough guide about how to work with survivors who need to come to terms with memories of abuse, this is the best text to begin with.