Recovered Memories of Abuse:
Assessment, Therapy, Forensics

By Kenneth S. Pope, Ph.D., ABPP
and
Laura S. Brown, Ph.D., ABPP

Published by the
American Psychological Association



Table of Contents
& Praise for the Book

Presented by Jim Hopper, Ph.D.


For more books and resources on recovered memories, see
Recovered Memories of Sexual Abuse: Scientific Research & Scholarly Resources



The Authors

Kenneth S. Pope, Ph.D., ABPP, received graduate degrees from Harvard and Yale, is a charter fellow of the American Psychological Society (APS), and has authored or co-authored over 100 articles and chapters in peer-reviewed scientific and professional journals and books. The latest of his articles, "Abuse, Memory, and Science: Questioning Claims About the False Memory Syndrome Epidemic" (also at this site, see bottom links), was first presented as an Award Address in 1995, when he received the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contributions to Public Service. A psychologist in independent practice, he has served as chair of the Ethics Committees of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), and received the APA Division of Clinical Psychology Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Clinical Psychology.

Laura S. Brown, Ph.D., ABPP, is a clinical and forensic psychologist in independent practice in Seattle, and Clinical Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington. She is a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology, Fellow of APA and APS, and served on the American Psychological Association Working Group on Recovered Memories. She has received several awards from her colleagues, including the Distinguished Publication Award of the APA Committee on Women in Psychology, the Distinguished Contributions Award of the APA Committee on Lesbian and Gay Concerns, and the 1995 APA Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Public Service. She was chosen by APA to present the Centennial Lecture on Women's Adult Development at the Smithsonian Institute. Dr. Brown has worked extensively toward the elimination of psychotherapeutic malpractice. Her testimony in the case of Simmons v. U.S., cited by the judges of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, has been extremely influential in creating a legal standard regarding misconduct by psychotherapists. She has been president of two APA divisions and has served on the editorial boards of numerous scientific journals.


On This Page:

    The Authors     Table of Contents     Praise for the Book


Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Sexual Abuse, Delayed Memories, and Therapy: An Introduction

Chapter 2: Science, Memory, and Trauma

Chapter 3: Clinical and Forensic Work as Questioning: Considering Claims About False Memories

Chapter 4: Practicing Safely and Competently: What Therapists Must Know

Chapter 5: Clinical Work With People Who Report Recovered Memories

Chapter 6: Forensic Issues for Therapists and Expert Witnesses


Appendix A: Useful Resources

Appendix B: States With Delayed Discovery Laws

Appendix C: Sample Informed Consent Form for Forensic Assessment When Recovered Memories Are at Issue

Appendix D: Informed Consent Issues for Providing Therapy to a Patient When Recovered Memories Are an Issue

Appendix E: Therapist's Outline for Frequent Review of Treatment and Treatment Plan for a Patient When Recovered Memories Are an Issue

Appendix F: Outline of Topics for Forensic Preparation

Appendix G: Therapist's Outline for Review Prior to Deposition and Cross-Examination

Appendix H: Cross-Examination Questions for Therapists Who Testify About Recovered Memories of Abuse


Table 4-1: Percent of Male and Female Participants Reporting Abuse

Table 4-2: Events, Experiences, or Circumstances That Triggered Recovery of Memories of Abuse

Table 4-3: Sources That Support, Corroborate, or Confirm the Memory of the Abuse

Table 4-4: Therapists' Experiences in Their Own Therapy

Table 4-5: Experiencing and Expressing Intense Emotion in Therapy


Praise for the Book

"Pope and Brown have presented a careful review of memory science that both appreciates complexity and cautions against overgeneralization. . . . The book presents very pragmatic guidelines for clinicians that serve to improve the standard of care and decrease liability risk. . . . This is a very sane, ethical, and compassionate approach to a very controversial and often irrational debate."
Daniel Brown, Ph.D., ABPH
Harvard Medical School

"Essential reading for lawyers and expert witnesses, this landmark book is scientifically grounded, carefully researched, and--thankfully!--of great practical use. The consent forms, deposition and cross-examination questions, outlines for reviewing treatment plans, and scrupulously fair examinations of the major controversies are major contributions. Avoiding the polarizing polemics and limited points of view that mar so much of the work in this area, this is the best book on this topic."
Gary Sampley, Esq.
Attorney at Law

"This is a book that a clinician, researcher, or trainee cannot afford to miss. . . . Only with this type of comprehensive information can we begin to appreciate the complexities of therapeutic and legal issues surrounding child sexual abuse."
Gail Elizabeth Wyatt, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry, UCLA

"Skillfully bringing together empirical science and clinical sensitivity, this landmark text should be on every therapist's bookshelf and in every training program's curriculum."
Melba Vasquez, Ph.D.
Chair, APA Board for the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest (1991-92)
Chair, APA Board of Professional Affairs (1996-97)

"An essential text of science and therapy, this unsurpassed resource for senior and seasoned professionals should be required reading in graduate programs. Pope and Brown's wise, rigorous, exceptionally well-written guide to research and practice represents the highest scientific, clinical, and ethical values."
Onno van der Hart, Ph.D.
Utrecht University, The Netherlands

"Pope and Brown provide a vital safe passage through the clinical and ethical minefield created by controversies associated with recovered memories of abuse. . . . Reading this book is the best way to avoid clinical and forensic pitfalls in the arena of recovered memories."
Gerald Koocher, Ph.D., ABPP
Harvard Medical School

"The topic of memory in general, and recovered memories in particular, has of late become controversial in the extreme for both lay and professionals audiences, Into this maelstrom, Pop and Brown's have written a clear and well reasoned and researched volume to examine the issues in depth. The volume is an important contribution to the field. Not only scientifically up to date, but also a thoughtful and practical guide to the area for clinicians that will improve therapeutic and avoid unnecessary difficulties."
Eliezer Witztum, MD
Beer-Sheva Mental Health Center
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel



All author royalties were waived to allow a lower price, so that the book would be more affordable for survivors, therapists-in-training, and others with limited funds.

Members of the American Psychological Association and its affiliates are entitled to the discounted price of $19.95, which is cheaper than the Amazon price; call 1-800-374-2721, 8:30am - 5pm EST, Monday - Friday.


This page is maintained by Jim Hopper, Ph.D., as are these related pages:

Recovered Memories, Repressed Memories, Traumatic Memories: Selected Books

Recovered Memories of Sexual Abuse: Scientific Research & Scholarly Resources

Questioning Claims About the False Memory Syndrome Epidemic

The Validity of Recovered Memory: Decision of a United States District Court

Sexual Abuse of Males: Prevalence, Lasting Effects, and Resources

Child Abuse: Statistics, Research, and Resources


Jim Hopper
http://www.jimhopper.com/
This page last updated 8/13/97
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