FALSE MEMORY SYNDROME FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER

FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4

Dear Friends, television program “Lie to Me” aired a segment in in which “‘Repressed-recovered memories’, ‘dissociative amnesia’ an individual with multiple personalities was encouraged to [3] and related concepts are best described as pernicious psychi- use hypnosis as a way to recover repressed memories. atric folklore devoid of convincing scientific evidence. Such (See page 9 ) The series is about a professor who uses facial theories are quite incapable of reliably assisting the legal expressions to determine if a person is lying. “Lie to Me” process. In our collective opinion, these unsupported, contro- claims to be based on the scientific research of psychologist versial notions have caused incalculable harm to the fields of Paul Ekman, Ph.D., who is a consultant to the show. (See psychology and psychiatry, damaged tens of thousands of page 9.) families, severely harmed the credibility of mental health Following are some comments from the program: professionals, and misled the legislative, civil, criminal, and family legal systems into many miscarriages of justice.” [1] minute 16: Three characters in conversation: “Trisha’s got it, multiple personality disorder...the holy grail of psychiatry...dis- This powerful clear statement is from an amicus[2] brief sociative identity disorder” filed in the Shanley case. The statement is highly significant because it was signed by almost 100 distinguished psychol- minute 19: “In their conscious life the alters aren’t aware of each other. Hopefully hypnosis will allow [the doctor] to tap ogists and psychiatrists. (See page 3) into their shared unconscious.” Given such a commanding statement from so many eminent scientists, the massive research literature demon- minute 20: Under hypnosis the subject is asked: “Did any- strating the ease with which false beliefs may develop, and thing bad happen to you? You know, when you were younger?” the lack of scientific evidence for repression, it is reasonable In an interview with a reporter from Popular to ask why there is still a “memory war,” why people still Mechanics, Ekman said that the professional and scientif- call the Foundation, why we still read of lawsuits in which ic elements on the show are around 90 percent accurate. evidence is based only on claims of recovered repressed He said that the character based on him was: memory. As some of the letters and articles in this issue of “[Y]ounger, edgier, arrogant, brusque, and he’s English. the newsletter demonstrate, the problem of FMS, unfortu- But the science that he does, and the applications, are exact- nately, seems still to be with us. ly what I’ve been doing, particularly in the past five years, in The notions of repression and multiple personality are applying this with law enforcement and national security.” [4] deeply embedded in our cultural belief. Unless there is a The author of the article noted: concerted movement by professional organizations or greater responsibility shown in the media, recovered “But if the show is informative and entertaining, the upside repressed memories and multiple personality are likely to for Ekman will be huge: He has written 15 books, but just the first episode of “Lie to Me” will reach more people than even remain in the popular culture even as they are increasingly his most popular title. “ viewed skeptically in legal circles. The public is subjected to far more examples of acceptance of recovered memories How much more likely is it that the public will see the than they are of skeptical analysis. It’s a lot more engaging to read about someone who explains his or her life-long In this issue... problems by recovering memories of child abuse than it is From Our Readers ...... 11 to read scholarly articles or technical documents. Bulletin Board ...... 15 September delivered an example of the problem. The The next newsletter will be sent in January 2010.

1955 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-5766, 215-940-1040, Fax 215-940-1042, www.FMSFonline.org television program as opposed to reading a legal brief continue to mislead the public with programs such as “Lie signed by 100 scientists? For those of us who are familiar to Me,” the problems associated with recovered repressed with the science of memory, this segment of “Lie to Me” memories will drag on. raises ethical questions and doubts about the scientific accu- All of this sounds depressing, but progress crawls on in racy of all the other programs. spite of ignorance and irresponsibility. Although there was Dr. Ekman provides comments on the episodes of “Lie some good publicity when the amicus signed by 100 scien- to Me.” Following is what he said about this program. tists was filed, there will likely be more when the “Loker [the hero’s chief assistant]] heralds what is going to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court makes a decision come next by crediting handwriting as a reflection of person- about the scientific status of recovered repressed memories ality Ð very few scientists who have studied the issue do. A in that state. If they decide that recovered repressed memo- few seconds later Lightman says Trisha has Multiple ries are not reliable, that moves us closer to the day when Personality Disorder. Foster corrects him substituting the the FMSF is no longer needed. more recent label: Dissociative Identity Disorder. She notes We continue to see progress in fewer calls and letters to that the existence of such a disorder is just barely more plau- the Foundation. We see progress in a smaller Bulletin Board sible than psychic phenomena. While Loker calls it the Holy list in this newsletter. How many organizations want to put Grail of psychiatry, there actually is strong disagreement themselves out of business as we do? among mental health professionals about whether it is a legit- In the meantime, we continue to do what we can to edu- imate diagnosis of a mental disorder which really occurs rather than a suggestible patient’s creation based on media cate people that recovered repressed memories are without depictions or a therapist’s belief in it. But it sets the stage for scientific foundation. FMSF members are critical in this an entertaining story and some great acting.” [5] effort. Writing letters about televisions programs that pro- vide misinformation is one important way to help. Your An entertaining story! Great acting! Not a word about gifts to the Foundation in our only fund raising effort are the dangers of using of hypnosis to recover a memory. another. We thank you for your generosity. Apparently, Dr. Ekman is completely unaware of how the unscientific belief in using hypnosis to recover memories Pamela has destroyed families and people’s lives.[6] Further, already 1. Barden, R. C. (2009, August). Brief of Amicus Curiae of the by 1993, 25 U.S. state supreme courts had ruled on the inad- International Committee of Social, Psychiatric, Psychological, Cognitive missibility of a witness testifying if he or she had been hyp- Science, Neuroscience, and Neurological Scientists submitted in MA v. notized to enhance memory of the event in question. Since Shanley. 2. An amicus curie brief is a "friend of the court" brief from someone who the legal system recognized the dangers of enhancing mem- is not a party to a case but who offers information on some other aspect ory via hypnosis, it seems unfortunate that therapists and the of the case to assist the court in deciding a matter before it. media cannot cannot also take heed. 3. Baun, S., Producer. (2009, September 28). The Core of It. “Lie to Me.” Belief in recovered repressed memories and multiple Fox. 4. Kramer, S.E. (2009, January 21). The (Real!) science behind Lie to personality are also kept alive by groups such as S.M.A.R.T. Me. Popular Mechanics. Retrieved on September 25, 2009 from: (Stop Mind Control and Ritual Torture). On page 7 there are http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/research/4300722.html some comments about a recent conference of this group . 5. (http://fox.com/blogs/lietome/) Would you be surprised to learn that members consider the 6. If you want to let Dr. Ekman learn about the tragedy that can result director of the FMSF to be an arch villain? Would it surprise from professionals who accept an “entertaining story” and “great acting” over scientific responsibility you could send him a copy of your story. you to learn that this group is listed as a conference sponsor Paul Ekman, Ph.D., Paul Ekman Group Llc., 4096 Piedmont Ave. 367, along with groups such as the American Psychological Oakland, CA 94611. Association and the San Diego School of Medicine? c Some therapists continue to perpetuate the belief in Correction repressed memories. In a story that would be very funny if it did not reflect so much danger, a 75-year-old FMSF moth- In the FMSF Summer Newsletter we wrote: in 1991 er was told by a therapist that: “You were sexually abused Colin Ross said MPD affects 1% of population. (The pop- by your father when you were a little girl.” He then pro- ulation in 1990 was 248,709,873 million. One percent posed to help her find her repressed memories. (See page would be 248,710 people with multiple personality.) 14) Would you be surprised to learn that the mother fled Bruce Robinson of Religious Tolerance.org was one from the office? of several to write to us with the correct estimate of peo- The Shanley case in Massachusetts (page 3) and a case ple with multiple personality disorder. in Indiana (page 6) are evidence that the confusion about the “I think that the 1% figure is what Dr. Ross estimated. scientific status of recovered repressed memories is still But that would make 2,487,098 million MPD’ers.” draining financial and legal resources. As long as the media

2 FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 100 Scientists Sign Amicus Brief dence. called Ford. He testified that his own Filed in the Massachusetts Supreme The FMS Foundation also filed an memories then started coming back. “I Judicial Court in Appeal of Former amicus brief that focused on the lack of felt like my world was coming to an Priest Paul R. Shanley scientific evidence for repressed mem- end.”[2] At the time, Busa was a mili- tary police officer in Colorado. Almost 100 scientists signed the ories. A brief arguing that the scientific On February 12, Busa visited a amicus brief of The International community does accept repressed and military therapist and then flew to Committee of Social, Psychiatric, recovered memories was filed by the Boston. According to investigative Psychological, Cognitive Science, Leadership Council. (See A.K.A. p. 4) reporter Jo Ann Wypijewski,[3] Neuroscience, and Neurological In September 2009, the Court the tick- heard oral arguments in the case. The et was paid for by attorney Rod Scientists [1] that was filed this summer MacLeish who was representing Ford. in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is expected to announce its deci- Busa met with the same mental health Court in the case of former priest Paul sion within 180 days on whether R. Shanley. The brief addresses the Shanley should have another trial. professionals as Ford and he also 1. Barden, R. C. (2009, August). Brief of issue of the scientific status of retained MacLeish. After Busa Amicus Curiae of the International Committee returned to Colorado and entered coun- repressed and recovered memories. of Social, Psychiatric, Psychological, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, and Neurological seling, he was told to start a journal of “‘Repressed-recovered memories’, Scientists submitted in Commonwealth of his memories. He backdated the jour- ‘dissociative amnesia’ and related Massachusetts v. Paul R. Shanley, No. SJC- nal to February 1. Busa was discharged concepts are best described as perni- 10382,Supreme Judicial Court, Middlesex Ct. from the military in April. cious psychiatric folklore devoid of Massachusetts. The brief including brief biogra- In the 1970s, Father Shanley was convincing scientific evidence. Such phies of the signers is available at: theories are quite incapable of reliably http://ncrj.org/Shanley/Shanley%20AMI- known as a charismatic “street priest” assisting the legal process. In our col- CUS%20as%20FILED%2009z.pdf who worked with troubled adolescents lective opinion, these unsupported, 2. Murphy, S. (2009, January 27). SJC to hear and supported gay rights. Until the controversial notions have caused appeal by ex-priest in abuse case. Boston criminal trial, no one had ever accused Globe. Retrived on January 27, 2009 from incalculable harm to the fields of psy- http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachu- Shanley of being sexually involved chology and psychiatry, damaged tens setts/articles/2009/01/27/sjc_to_hear_appeal_b with young children. There were, how- of thousands of families, severely y_ex_priest_in_abuse_case?mode=PF. ever, claims of his involvement with harmed the credibility of mental *** adolescents or young adults in the 60s health professionals, and misled the and 70s. legislative, civil, criminal, and family Reprinted from FMSF After the publication of the legal systems into many miscarriages Newsletter 14 (2), 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe of justice.” PAUL SHANLEY CASE series and a later press conference by Paul Shanley was convicted in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Paul 2005 of assaulting and raping Paul Shanley, Commonwealth of attorney MacLeish, Shanley became Busa who claimed to have recovered Massachusetts, Middlesex one of, if not the, most high-profile fig- repressed memories of the abuse that SS Superior Court, No. 2002-0894 ures in the church abuse scandals. Shanley is one of the few priests to be he said began when he was age six and On February 7, 2005, a Boston criminally charged in Massachusetts. continued until he was 12. (See below jury found defrocked Roman Catholic Because he had moved to California in for report of the case.) priest Paul Shanley guilty of sexually 1990, the clock stopped on the 15 year After the trial decision, Cambridge abusing now 27-year-old Boston fire- statute of limitations. appellate attorney Robert F. Shaw, Jr., man Paul Busa when he was a young There were two young men, petitioned the Supreme Judicial Court child. Shanley, age 74, was sentenced besides Ford and Busa who made to consider Shanley’s appeal for a new to 12-15 years in prison. claims against Shanley. They all trial. Shaw believes that the Court The evidence in the case consisted attended the same Catholic religious granted this appeal because, “This case entirely of Busa's recovered memories. classes at St. Jean L'Evangeliste in involves a very difficult issue. . . Busa testified that his girlfriend called Newton, Mass. They all said that repressed memory...”[2] Among the him on January 31 to tell him about a Shanley would take them out of class issues raised by Shaw was the argu- Boston Globe article about Shanley.[1] and rape them in the rectory, confes- ment that in the trial, prosecutors failed Busa said he was surprised because sional and restroom from the time they to demonstrate that “repressed memo- everyone had liked Shanley. His girl- were six until they were 11 or 12. They ry” evidence is admissible and that friend called again on February 11 to all claimed that they immediately for- Shanley’s trial lawyer inadequately tell him that his friend Gregory Ford got being raped or abused and that they challenged “repressed memory” evi- was accusing Shanley. Busa then

FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 3 recovered the memories after the memories can return in a flood of 3. Wypijewski, J. (2004, September-October). Globe article. They all had the same images and physical symptoms such as The passion of Father Paul Shanley. Legal Affairs. Retrieved February 9, 2005, from lawyer. There is no record of any per- anxiety and sleeplessness, all of which http://www.legalaffairs.org/issues/September- son during those years who noticed Busa said he experienced. Dr. Chu October2004/features_wypijewski_sepoct04.ht anything unusual involving the boys used the term “dissociative barrier” to ml. and Shanley. describe the mechanism that keeps Ballou, B., & Lawrence, J. (2005, February 8). In April 2004, all four received set- traumatic memories locked up. Under Shanley guilty; verdict delivers 'victory,' vindi- cation. Boston Herald, p. 7. tlements from the Church in civil cross-examination, Chu acknowledged Kukjian, S., & Cullen, K. (2002, June 21). cases. Ford is said to have received the intense debate about the validity of Grand jury indicts Shanley, charges rape of four more than $1.4 million and Busa repressed memories and that false boys. Boston Globe, p. A22. received $500,000. memories can be implanted. Lavoie, D. (2005, January 31). State wraps up In July 2004, prosecutors said that Elizabeth Loftus, Ph.D., the only case against defrocked priest. Associated Press. “in order to make this the most man- witness for the defense, testified that Lavoie, D. (2005, February 7). Defrocked priest ageable case for a jury to hear,” it her research shows that people can convicted in notorious clergy sex abuse case. Associated Press, Monday, BC. would drop Ford and another person come to sincerely believe implanted from the case. A great deal had been memories. On cross-examination, Comments from Jurors learned about Gregory Ford and his prosecutor Rooney asked Loftus about life that caused many questions about statements she had made about Jury Member Patrick Kierce: “It the reliability of his memories. The repressed memories in the past that must have come back to him...His other accuser was dropped on the day were at odds with her current state- health, his wife. It was heartfelt. He jury selection began because no one ments. Loftus was unable to complete didn't have much of anything else to could find him. her answers, and defense attorney go on.” The trial began in mid-January and Mondano did not follow up on redi- Weiss, J. (2005, February 8). Jury con- was shown on CourtTV. Busa sobbed rect. victs Shanley of raping child victim. Boston Globe, p. A1. during some of his highly emotional In closing arguments, Prosecutor testimony, and his wife described his Rooney said that the emotion Busa Jury Member Victoria Blier: “I awful pain and suffering after he showed when he testified was evidence think one of the more convincing recovered memories. Classmates and that he was not fabricating his claims. things that was spoken by a lot of two former teachers from the school “The emotions were raw. They were people was that the victim had took the stand. None of the classmates real. They were reflective of the pain already won a civil case and had testified that they ever saw Shanley he experienced,” she said. In his clos- already been awarded half a million remove anyone from class, although ing, defense attorney Frank Mondano dollars and had no motivation, no students were sent out of the class. One argued that Busa's story was not reli- reason, to pursue the criminal case student testified that he had once been able and that he made up the story to other than personal conviction.” sent to Shanley who had told him to get the money from a civil trial. Saltzman, J. (2005, February 8). stop giving the teacher a hard time and Prosecutor Rooney argued that Busa Compelling witness overrode questions sent him right back to class. Under already had the money from the civil on memories. Boston Globe, p. B5. cross-examination, teachers could not trial so that would not explain his will- recall Shanley taking children out of ingness to endure the pain of the crim- c class. One stated that Busa would not inal trial. A.K.A. even have been in the religious class at The jury deliberated 13 hours “I don’t know what you mean by the age he claimed. before reaching its decision. Jury ‘glory,’” Alice said. James Chu, M.D., an associate member Victoria Blier remarked that Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptu- professor at Harvard Medical School, the jury agreed after discussion that ously. “Of course you don’t—till I tell was an expert for the prosecution. He you can experience something up to a you. ‘I meant there’s a nice knock- testified that repressed memory is point, and then not think about it and down argument for you!’” more common among people who suf- have plenty of other things in your life “But ‘glory’ doesn’t mean ‘a nice fered repeated trauma as children than that are more important. knock-down argument,’” Alice object- in those who suffered a single traumat- 1. Pfeiffer, S. (2002, January 31). Famed 'street ed. ic event. “It really is more this repeat- priest' preyed upon boys. Boston Globe, p. A21. “When I use a word,” Humpty ed trauma that tends to be forgotten by 2. Lavoi, D. (2005, January 26). Shanley's Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, some mechanism.” He noted that accuser testifies at child rape trial. Associated Press State & Local Wire, 4:56 Wednesday, BC. “it means just what I choose it to

4 FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 mean neither more not less.” The memory wars have been Beyond the Body: “The question is,” said Alice, going on for two decades, plenty of Hypnotic Inductions to Align the “whether you can make words mean time for proponents of repression and Human Energy Field so many different things.” recovery of memory to have estab- Dolores J. Bjorkman, MSW, RN, lished precise terms and concepts. private practice “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master— Unfortunately, to read some papers in Experiments in physics over the that’s all.” support of repression is to take a trip past 100 years are describing a Through the Looking Glass. Lewis Carroll. universe made of only energy. The 1. Murphy, W. (2009). Brief of the Leadership energetic mechanisms by which Through the Looking Glass Council as Amicus Curiae. Submitted in Massachusetts v. Shanley, SJC No. 10382, AC matter exists and communicates Humpty Dumpty came to mind No. 2007-P-0886 are being explored. In this work- when we read an amicus filed in sup- c shop, scientific concepts that port of the prosecution in the Shanley To Laugh or Cry? explain the Human Energy Field case.[1] The following terms were all will be introduced. Three dimen- used in this brief in reference to the The program for the Society for sions of the Human Energy repression and recovery of traumatic Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis Field—Aura, Hara, and Core memories: “delayed memory,” 60th Annual Workshops & Scientific Essence—will be identified. The “delayed recall,” “dissociative amne- Program Conference (October 21-25, workshop will focus on the anato- sia,” “dissociative memory loss,” “dis- 2009 in Reno, Nevada) includes the my and physiology of the Auric sociative phenomena,” “dissociative workshops described below that will Field. The significance of the state,” “motivated forgetting,” “post be given on October 24. Comment Auric Field in physical and mental traumatic amnesia,” “psychogenic seems superfluous. health will be explored. amnesia,” “psychogenic shock,” The Tapping Cure Participants will experience an “recovered memory,” “repression,” Roberta Temes, PhD, Downstate induction to strengthen the Auric “repressed memory,” and “traumatic Medical School, New York, NY Field. Design of inductions to tar- get specific issues will be dis- amnesia.” Because some of these In the Tapping Cure workshop I cussed. terms have other meanings that will teach and demonstrate the involve no controversy, their use con- methods of tapping for phobia c fuses and obscures the focus of the relief, anxiety and PTSD. I will Memory Reconsolidation: issue: the scientific status of repres- present the latest research and talk sion. Modification of Old Memories about the controversies in the McGowan, K. (2009, July/August). Out One example of the confusion: field, too. Energy Psychology (EP) of the past. Discover, 30(7). “dissociative phenomena” is a catego- refers to the various techniques Recent findings in neuroscience ry that includes “dissociative amne- that combine the ideas of tradition- show that we alter our memories just sia,” (repression), the focus of the al Western psychotherapy with by remembering them. In this article, arguments in this legal case. The cate- acupressure and other Eastern Kathleen McGowan tells the interest- gory dissociative phenomena also approaches to medicine. The ing story of Karim Nader, a young includes “dissociative identity disor- Tapping Cure is a form of EP. Its postdoc, whose theory about memory der” (multiple personality disorder), science is not yet known Ð clinical reconsolidation challenged established “dissociative fugue,” “depersonaliza- trials and double-blind studies views of memory. She describes the tion disorder,” and “dissociative disor- now being conducted at Kaiser process of his theory becoming the ders not otherwise specified.” Permanente in CA Ð but the results accepted view. In an exceptionally “Depersonalization,” in which an indi- are in. It works. By gently tapping clear manner, she explains the nature vidual feels that he or she is watching on specific body parts while at the of the research and the current scientif- life go by, is a fairly common experi- same time speaking certain words, ic understanding of memory. ence. It is not controversial in the sense it is possible to separate a painful that claims of dissociative amnesia and negative emotion from a particular “For a hundred years, people multiple personality are controversial. memory. This is as incredible as is thought memory was wired into the “Psychogenic shock” and “motivated the success of a hypnosis session. brain. Instead, we find it can be forgetting” are not controversial con- rewired Ð you can add false informa- cepts; nor do they refer to the repres- * * * tion to it, make it stronger, make it sion and recovery of memories. weaker, and possibly even make it dis-

FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 5 appear.” Karim Nadar. Quoted in Out six accusers later testified that they had conduct by forensic scientists. The of the past. lied on the stand, saying they were Willingham case is one of first to be “Reconsolidation suggests that coerced. reviewed, Grann writes. Texas could when you use a memory, the one you Indeed, as early as 1986, a year- be the first state to acknowledge that it had originally is no longer valid or long investigation of the Kern County carried out the “execution of a legally maybe no longer accessible.” Joseph cases by the California Attorney and factually innocent person.” Le Doux. Quoted in Out of the past. General’s Office concluded that local c Even though we are not aware of authorities had used “suggestive” it, people are continually rewriting our questioning that led children to give Indiana Clergy Case: life stories. McGowen explains: answers that they wanted. At that time, The Ongoing Debate King, R. (2009, August 21). Priest abuse “Every time we remember, it seems, the “attorney general said there was hearing hinges on memory, time. we add new details, shade the facts, both a shortage of corroborating evi- Indianapolis Star, A-1. prune and tweak.” She observes that dence and that some alleged victims memory is very much like imagination were simply parroting what they were The scientific status of repressed in that both conjure a world that never told in questioning or what they heard memories was the focus of a hearing existed until “forged by our minds.” other children say.” [2] Yet, Stoll on August 21, 2009 in Indianapolis, Both memory and imagination allow remained in prison until the Innocence Indiana at Marion Super Court before you to “put yourself in a time and Project took up his cause. Judge David Dreyer. place other than the one we actually 1.Witch Hunt was produced and narrated by The case is about John Doe, a 44- occupy. Sean Penn. (See FMSF Newsletter 18(1) year-old business man, now living in Winter 2009) The video can be purchased at: another state, who claims that in thera- “When people are instructed to http://witchhuntmovie.com/crew.html py in 2003 he began to recover memo- imagine events that might happen in 2. Boren, J. (2004, May 9). Botched child ries that priest Harry Monroe had their personal future and then to molestation cases meted out injustice. Fresno remember actual events in the past, Bee, p. F3. abused him when he was an altar boy. we find extensive and very striking The facts of the case were not con- overlap in areas of brain activation.” c tested. There are 13 lawsuits filed Daniel Schacter. Quoted in Out of the Did Texas Execute an against this former priest and he has past. Innocent Man? confessed that he abused at least five c Grann, D. (2009, September 7) Trial by of the people who have brought suits. fire. New Yorker, p. 42-63. John Doe RG’s suit, however, is the $5 Million Settlement in Available at: only one that involved repressed mem- John Stoll Case http://www.newyorker.com/report- ories. None of the other cases was In September 2009, John Stoll ing/2009/09/07/090907fa_fact_grann prosecuted because the statute of limi- agreed to accept $5 Million that he Although this article is not about tations had expired. Kern County California Board of memory or false memory, it is about Does the fact that the victim had Supervisors voted to settle a lawsuit the justice system and we think it is repressed his memories change the filed by Stoll who was wrongly impris- important enough to mention. statute of limitations? The legal debate oned. In “Trial by Fire,” David Grann focused on whether trauma victims can The 2008 documentary Witch tells the tragic story of the 2005 execu- truly lose access to their memories of Hunt [1] featured John Stoll, who spent tion in Texas of Todd Willingham for abuse and later recover them. The almost 20 years in prison before being triple homicide. Willingham was con- expert for John Doe RG was James A. released in 2004. Stoll was one of the victed of setting his house on fire and Chu, M.D., associate professor of psy- 30 people convicted in the California killing his three children. Grann chiatry at Harvard University. Chu Kern County (Bakersfield) child abuse exposes the fact that Texas officials stated that among clinicians there is no hysteria in the early 1980s. ignored reports by fire scientists that real debate about the validity of The judge who ordered his release showed clearly there was no evidence repressed memories. He said that the noted that prosecutors had presented of arson. The parole board that reviews only doubters of repressed memory no physical evidence at the original applications for clemency did not even were people who work in laboratories trial and that none of the six children bother to read the report that would and who do not treat patients. The who accused Stoll had been examined have shown that he was not guilty. expert for the archdiocese was by doctors. The case rested solely on In 2005, Texas established a com- Harrison Pope, M.D., professor of psy- the children’s testimony. Four of the mission to investigate error and mis- chiatry at Harvard University who

6 FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 wrote in an affidavit that there are seri- Proponents of Repressed Memories: ories” of these alleged early traumas ous questions about repressed memo- S.M.A.R.T. while undergoing psychiatric thera- ries in the scientific community and py.” ‘There are thousands more survivors that there is a lack of consensus about out there who have yet to learn what “To Neil Brick, the FMSF is nothing them. more than a group of “pedophile sym- they have been through.’ [1] Attorney Pat Noaker who repre- pathizers”, the executive director of sents John Doe RG argued that statute In August 2009, the Twelfth which Ð Pamela Freyd Ð serves as the does not apply if memories are Annual Ritual Abuse, Secretive oft-cited arch-villain of the confer- repressed Ð that a person has a two- Organizations and Mind Control ence. There is Satan, and there is Pamela Freyd. Without them, the year window in which to file after Conference was held in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.[2] Doug Mesner, a world would be okay, and no children recovering the memories. Attorney Jay would ever get hurt…” Mercer who represents the archdiocese young investigative journalist, attend- argued that an exception to the statute ed the conference and wrote a two-part “The attendees at the conference, of limitations should not be granted description of it for The Examiner. whether out of politeness or sheer credulity, seem prepared to believe because of the lack of scientific con- After the first part was posted, the anything. Nobody shows a hint of sensus about repressed memories. Examiner editor received so many complaints that he removed the article doubt when a speaker by the name of After the arguments, Judge Dreyer “Royal”, at all of about forty years of and did not post the second part. In asked attorneys to give him more infor- age, stands before us to claim that she mation about the relationship between fact, the editor posted material written was a personal slave to Nazi doctor “dissociative amnesia” and “repressed by the organizer of the conference, sur- Josef Mengele.” memory.” The judge noted that “disso- vivor Neil Brick. The Mesner articles can still be read, however. “Juliane expresses gratitude to for- ciative amnesia” is listed in the DSM- mer S.M.A.R.T. conference speaker IV and that “repressed memory” is not Report from the S.M.A.R.T. Ritual Brice Taylor (after expressing disdain listed. He said that acceptance in the Abuse/Mind-Control Conference 2009, #1 for “The Media”, and the requisite desk reference would be a simple way Doug Mesner. Available at loathing of the False Memory of deciding the credibility of the sci- http://www.process.org/dis- Syndrome Foundation [FMSF]). . . ence and whether to allow testimony. cept/2009/08/25/report-from-the-s-m-a-r- .Brice Taylor’s book “Thanks for The t-ritual-abusemind-control-conference- Memories” details her personal recov- c 2009/ ered memories of satanic sexual abuse Report from the S.M.A.R.T. Ritual within the highest levels of the United The Rutherford Family Speaks to Abuse/Mind-Control Conference 2009, #2 States government Ð from John F. FMS Families Doug Mesner. Available at Kennedy to Lyndon Johnson, Richard http://www.process.org/dis- Nixon, Gerald Ford, to Ronald The DVD made by the cept/2009/08/31/report-from-the-s-m-a-r- Reagan. Claiming to have been Rutherford family is the most pop- t-ritual-abusemind-control-conference- owned as a mind-controlled sex slave ular DVD of FMSF families. It cov- 2009-part-2/ by late comedian Bob Hope Ð who ers the complete story from accusa- later passed her off to Henry Kissinger tion, to retraction and reconciliation. Below are some excerpts from the Ð Taylor is a favorite in the mentally fractured fringe, her book a classic in Family members describe the things Mesner articles. the folk genre of delusional conspira- “The S.M.A.R.T conferences are an they did to cope and to help reunite. cy theory literature. A twistedly opportunity for the victims of the Of particular interest are Beth prurient work describing outrageous satanic conspiracy to exchange their Rutherford’s comments about what pedophilic orgies among the famous horrific tales, offer support to one her family did that helped her to and affluent, Taylor’s work has been another and, most importantly “just be retract and return. described as “porno for paranoids” – believed”. Victims are encouraged to its claims so far-flung and unlikely bring an accompanying “support per- Available in DVD format only: that, as far as I know, nobody has seen son”, as much of the material covered To order send request to the need to disprove it. But then, this in the 2-day series of talks is consid- FMSF -DVD, 1955 Locust St. lack of a definitive debunking puts ered to be “triggering” (that is to say, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Taylor’s book in a class above several it may cause flashbacks in the similar- $10.00 per DVD; Canada add $4.00; of the Ritual Abuse/Satanic Panic ly traumatized).” other countries add $10.00 movement’s foundational texts.” Make checks payable to FMS “Almost all of the self-proclaimed Is all this to be laughed at? Is it any Foundation victims of Satanic Ritual Abuse, like different from a group of UFO-believ- Labrier, have “recovered” their “mem- ers? Unfortunately, a conference such

FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 7 as this is a problem. Believers in satan- ed that the San Mateo District police. After four months of her urging, ic conspiracies have devastated their Attorney’s office will retry the case. A he did indeed contact the San Mateo own lives, have destroyed their fami- new trial is expected to begin in early police. lies’ lives, and have usurped untold 2010. After the police dropped their case, resources of law enforcement and the Dr. Ayres, a 77-year-old retired Balfour aggressively sought evidence justice system agencies. An organiza- child psychiatrist, has been prominent that Ayres had abused others. She tion such as S.M.A.R.T. gains credibil- in the community and he is a former placed postings online and by 2005, ity when a conference such as the 14th president of the American Academy of had compiled a list of 15 possible vic- International Conference on violence, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Over tims. She went to the police who asked Abuse and Trauma presented by the years, Ayres likely conducted about for her information. The police then Alliant International University two thousand forensic examinations on seized more than 800 patient records includes the organization in its pro- juveniles who were referred to him by from Ayres’ former patients. They sift- gram as a collaborator along with the the San Mateo County Juvenile Court ed through the records and found thir- American Psychological Association and by area school districts. He ty-seven men who said that Ayres had and the University of California, San acknowledged that he sometimes con- abused them. Only a few of those Diego School of Medicine and oth- ducted physical examinations of cases, however, fell within the statute ers.[3] patients and that sometimes these of limitations. 1. Neil Brick, organizer of the 2003 Stop Mind included genital examination, but he San Mateo police captain Mike Control and Ritual Torture Conference in denied ever abusing any patients. In Callagy credited Balfour for her work Connecticut as reported in Rucker, P. (2003, September 4). Speak of the Devil: Victimized 2006, Ayres explained: “Child psychia- stating: “I don’t know if the victims by satanic cults and the CIA or just plain trists are physicians. Physical examina- would have come forward without her crazy? A look at the recent SMART conference tions are things that we are trained to encouragement.” [5] The San Mateo at Windsor Locks. Hartford Advocate. do.” [2] Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Available at http://www.rickross.com/refer- San Francisco attorney Doren Wagstaffe said: “She basically had a ence/satanism/satanism86.html 2. Some of the talks from this conference are Weinberg represented William Ayres. quest to bring Dr. Ayres to justice. She available on the website of the group that orga- The case against Ayres had its worked, at times without a lot of appre- nized it: S.M.A.R.T. See: foundation in 2002 when a former ciation, to get it into police officers’ http://ritualabuse.us/smart-conference/2009- patient contacted the San Mateo police hands.”[6] conference/ to say that Ayres had molested him in In September, Victoria Balfour 3. Program available at: http://www.ivatcen- ters.org/Conferences/14thProgramBooklet6- 1976. The police launched a criminal was honored for her work in this case. 17-09.pdf investigation that ended when the She received the Award for Excellence United States Supreme Court struck in the Media from the 14th Inter- c down a California law that had retroac- national Conference on Violence, Case Against William H. Ayres, tively extended the statute of limita- Abuse, and Trauma that was held in M.D. Ends in Mistrial tions in child abuse cases. [3] In 2003, San Diego from September 23-26, Case SC064366 Filed 8/21/07 San the former patient filed a civil suit 2009. Colin Ross, M.D., and Robert Mateo, California. against Ayres who later who agreed to Mungadze, Ph.D., were speakers at a confidential settlement. this conference. Among the many In July 2009, Judge Beth Freeman The story of how that patient came organizations listed as supporters of of the San Mateo County Superior to contact the police in 2002 and the the conference was “SMART Ritual Court declared a mistrial after the jury subsequent development of the case is Abuse Newsletters & Conferences.” remained deadlocked for two weeks of interesting. At the suggestion of a deliberations following the molestation 1. Durand, M. (2009, July 28). Ayres case ends friend, the man, who was an aspiring in mistrial. The Daily Journal. Retrieved on trial of William Hamilton Ayres, M.D. writer, contacted Victoria Balfour, a July 29, 2009 from: http://www.smdailyjour- Ayres had been tried on numerous nal.com/article_preview.phhp?id=113975 New York freelance writer and vic- counts of lewd and lascivious conduct 2. Williamson. K. (2007, April 6). The tims’ rights advocate, to get tips about with a child under the age of 14. Six Examiner. Retrieved on July 29, 2009 from: how to find writing work. In the con- http://www.examiner.com/printa-659821- former patients claimed he had sexual- versation, the man happened to men- Child_psychiatrist_charged_with_molesting_p ly abused them while performing med- tion that Dr. Ayres had abused him. atients.html ical evaluations between 1988 and 3. Stogner v. California, 539 U.S. 607 (2003). Balfour who has written that she had 1996. [1] After interviewing jury mem- 4. Balfour, V. (1999) A thin line. Vogue. been molested as a child, [4] started to bers, 5. Cote, J. (2007, April 23). Case against psy- encourage the man to contact the chiatrist took years to assemble. Writer and Prosecutor Melissa McKowan stat-

8 FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 advocate for alleged victims pushed molest the taboo out of talking about sexual sit on regarding this volatile issue, probe. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on abuse. The Advocate (Baton Rouge, by the end of the evening recov- July 29, 2009 from http://www.sfgate.com/cgi- Louisiana), 1F. bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/23/MNGE- ered memory has been trivialized.” QPDMON1.DTL&type=printable Grant, J. A. (2005, March 7). 6. Maher, S. (2009, September 24) Journalist “Lewis’s best friend is Gary, ‘Reckoning’ trivializes hot topic. Daily honored for role in Ayres child abuse prosecu- who is unemployed and lives off News, 26. tion. The Oakland Tribune. Retrieved on the settlement money from the September 28, 2009 from http://www.insideba- psychologist who helped him yarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_ “This is all distraction, diversion, 13415139?source=rss ‘recover’ false memories of ritual multiple ways not to deal with the The “William Hamilton Ayres Watchdog Site” child abuse and goat slaughter at difficult big issues that Picoult has complete, though perhaps biased, coverage the hands of his now-estranged seems to have thought she would of the trial. parents.” http://williamayreswatch.blogspot.com/ deal with here Ð repressed memory Kevin Chong, (2005, January 29). Book of childhood sexual abuse Ð but c Review: Home Land. Globe and Mail, D5. then simply blurted out in a rush “In today’s broadcast Dr. Stan and left the state.” “Lie To Me” Lied: Katz advises Bethany to use hyp- Hill, I. (2005, March 27). Review of Relentless Media Mention of nosis to recover memories.” Vanishing Acts. Washington Post, T6. Repressed Memories and MPD (2009, February 11). Description of In September 2009, the television “Starting Over” a daytime reality program. “Then the police discover a link program “Lie to Me” aired a segment www.startingoverty.com/showguide/full- between the victims: they all had in which an individual was encouraged story.html young female relatives who are to use hypnosis as a way to recover patients of Nathan Malik, a psy- repressed memories.[1] This was disap- “On March 1 viewers will learn chologist who specializes in help- pointing, especially because the pro- that Viki’s tender, caring daughter ing sufferers of childhood sexual gram is based on the work and life of Jessica… has also developed abuse to recover suppressed mem- Paul Ekman, Ph.D. who also serves as MPD.” ories.” a consultant. How sad that such a Logan, M. (2009, February 27). On prominent psychologist was unable to Kerridge, J. (2005, April 30). Books. Soaps: Just like mama. (Llanview). TV Review of “Blood Memory” The Daily prevent damaging misinformation Guide. Telegraph (London), 10. from misleading the public. Indeed, the suggestion that hypnosis is an accurate “[Sabina Spielrein, Jung’s first “On one level, Odum’s affliction way to recover repressed memories is a analysand] remembers a pogrom in can be reduced to a case of multi- “lie.” The program lied to the public! her hometown of Rostov, Russia. ple personality disorder triggered The incident reminded us that a Amid the flames, she sees her by a repressed childhood trauma.” few years ago we collected reviews of father’s face, and repressed memo- plays, movies, and books that men- ries of incest come flooding forth.” Reich, T. (2005, May 1). Review of “A tioned repressed memories. The fol- Master of Tradecraft Legends: A Novel of lowing items were just some of the Kanfer, E. (2005, March 1). Buried Dissimulation.” The New Leader, 88(3). many references that crossed our desk childhoods. The New Leader, 88(2), 45. in 2005 in response to a daily search “The dreams confuse Mary, but for repressed memories. “Jack is subjected to the snarly her husband Holmes believes The number of references helps to shrink’s unorthodox memory- they’re rooted in repressed memo- explain why belief in repressed memo- recovery treatment, which basical- ries of her San Francisco child- ries will likely remain. When people ly involves sticking patients in hood during the great quake and see or hear something over and over, morgue drawers and slamming fire.” they tend to accept it. them shut until they scream them- Review of “Locked Rooms.” (2005, 1. The Core of It. (2009, September 28). Fox. selves back into sanity.” May 1). Kirkus Reviews. *** Pevere, G. (2005, March 4). Jacket “So devastating is sexual abuse to the made of thin material. Toronto Star, D3. “I would like to forget all these human psyche that victims often horrible things completely, and for repress the memory.” “Whatever side of the fence you more than 20 years I unconscious- Chambers, P. (2005, January 22). Take ly succeeded in doing just that.”

FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 9 Taylor, T. (2005, May 2). Truth, History ago are breaking through.” and Honor Killing. Review of “Burned “The sisters warn that coming Alive”. Antiwar.com Best Sellers: Fiction. (2005, August 21). forward is like taking the lid off Review of “Long Time Gone.” The New something terrible, allowing sup- York Times. “The film, described by HBO as pressed memories to suddenly an ‘intimate psychological jour- become real.” “Repressed memories. A heart- ney,’ focuses on a Toledo firefight- Gyulai, L. (2005, June 20). Title: less mother. A grandmother’s er confronting his abuse after years Jeannie and Anne-Marie Hilton; Victims’ ghost….” of repressing his memories.” Advocates, Quebec. Time, 49. Janusonis, M. (2005, August 26). Chadwich, J. (2005, May 11). Victims Heaping helping of suds in melodramatic hope film inspires change in law; Abuse “The state attorney general “Finding Home.” Providence Journal, D1. story screened in Trenton. Review of film assigns Beaumont a cold case after “Twist of Faith.” The Record (Bergen a nun, Sister Mary Katherine, County, NJ, A4. “The recovery of repressed reports horrific dreams that indi- memories of the 1953 murder by a cate a long-repressed memory of serial killer of an 11-year-old “. . . believes that the nightmares witnessing a murder.” and nosebleeds that afflict him friend and neighbor…” Review of “Long Time Gone” (2005, throughout adolescence are results Girls of Tender Age: A Memoir. (2005, June 20). Publishers Weekly, 62. of an alien abduction that occurred September 5). Publishers Weekly, 42. in the summer of 1981.” “The death of his childhood sex- Scott, A.O. (2005, May 6). Review “They’re very much in love and ual obsession seduces Billy “Mysterious Skin.” New York Times, E 13. seem not to have a care in the Bagwell back to his hometown and world, until a nightmarish memory to the dark depths of repressed “Sam encourages Danny to resurfaces from Sabina’s early memories…” investigate why Victoria’s piano childhood.” Mystery Prepub “Killing Neptune’s playing seems to stir repressed Young, D. (2005, September 13). Daughter.” (2005, July 15). Library childhood memories of his life Review of “Don’t Tell” film. Variety. Journal, 58. before ‘Uncle’ Bart.” “Thinnes turns for help in recov- Lumenick, L. (2005, May 13). Jet pro- “Although the novella purports pelled. Review of movie “Unleashed.” ering his memory to Dr. Jack to be an extended narrative that is New York Post, 49. Caleb, a psychotherapist.” as much an exercise in the retrieval of repressed memories…..” Review of “White Tiger” (2005, “For 20 years, she [Catherine October 17). Publishers Weekly, 43. Oxenberg] suffered from bulimia Maier, H. (2005, July 23). Review of in secret; then, while trying to “The Lost Thoughts of Soldiers.” Courier- Mail. “Both face up to their past and overcome the eating disorder, she make a new beginning through the recovered memories of sexual recall of repressed memories.” abuse from her childhood.” “After he met the Blunts, says his wife, Janet, ‘it became a full- Stead, M. (2005 October 29). Saturday Strauss, C. & Warrick, P. (2005, May fledged recovered memory and Review: Fiction: “A better connection.” 16). “The Princess Diarie”. Her life now a The Guardian (London), 16. reality show, blue-blooded actress painful for him’” Catherine Oxenberg opens up about fami- Smolowe, J. & Stoynoff, N. (2005, July “Pietro is a young Italian man ly and her battle with bulimia. People, 101. 25). The Secrets Spill Out: Plunging into dark places while writing his new novel, whose childhood is so traumatic “Her doctor diagnoses her condi- John Irving confronts his childhood sexual that he has no memory of it.” abuse and connects with the father Ð and Clark, L. (2005, November 27). Snowy tion as dissociative identity disor- family Ð he never knew. Time, 88. der, ‘which is sort of multiple per- saga to read in summer. Sunday Telegraph sonality disorder,’ she said.” (Sydney, Australia), 92. “A hypnotherapist, brings her to Martin, D. (2005, May 3). Woman’s Beau when his sessions with her c mental illness leads to the state. Review of indicate that repressed memories play “Five Bottles in a Six-Pack.” Express- of a murder she witnessed 40 years News, 19H (San Antonio, TX).

10 . FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 our children began to discredit us and process of supplying an affidavit, it act in inappropriate ways. Two weeks cost us the membership in a church after arriving, our daughter took the that we have been a part of for 9 years Repressed Memories in dropped allegations to my wife’s and a denomination of 50 years. North Carolina employer, a school system. My son-in- We look forward to the day when law continued to call asking why she all of this is behind us. In the mean- Although your last newsletter indi- was still employed. time, there is a journal to remind those cated a decline in cases reported of In April, our daughter contacted who live on our thoughts of this expe- false memory issues, the problem is the neighbors on both sides of us and rience. very much alive in North Carolina. We told them we were offenders. She A dad want to share the horrific events of our shared that her therapist had helped her c lives during the last 2-1/2 years. Two remember things that were done to her Reconciliation Services years ago, we received a letter from before she was three. Also in April, our Your newsletter indicates that our daughter and son-in-law in which minister and a chief executive in our FMSF is hearing from fewer new fam- we were addressed by our first names. church governance structure were con- ilies. I understand this to mean that In the letter we were told not to have tacted and told that we abuse children. fewer cases are being reported. This is any contact with our grandchildren. A The school system met with my wonderful. I fear, however, that FMSF copy of this letter was sent to our wife and her attorney and discussed the might feel that their work is therefore daughter’s therapist and to the princi- allegations. After the meeting, they ending. I would like to see the FMSF pal of the school where my wife forwarded the list of charges to chil- open another door of service Ð initiat- worked. dren’s services. In mid June, my wife ing approaches to reconciliation A few weeks later, we received a was one of 7 employees returned to a between families yet estranged. letter from an attorney indicating that supervisory post. Since the material As you may know, our daughter he had been hired to begin legal action was filed, we have not been contacted accused me, her dad, falsely ten years against us for crimes against our by the children’s services agency. We ago. She and her husband now have a daughter and our grandsons. view the rehiring of my wife by the five-year-old son and a two-year-old These actions caught us by sur- school district as an act of confidence daughter whom we have never seen. prise and caused my wife to question and as an outward indication that they If the FMSF should develop an my role in all of this. She separated do not believe the allegations. intentional, professionally-staffed rec- from me for three months and hired her During these trying years we have onciliatory service, I am confident our own attorney to deal with the charges had the help of wonderful therapists. family would be helped as would, no when she found out that she was impli- They too have been puzzled by the doubt, many other families. cated as well. When they saw the list of behavior of certain members of their Thank you for considering our over 20 allegations and found that our profession. Our therapist, with over 40 observations. daughter was willing to drop all of this years of practice, labeled the daugh- A dad if we would pay them, our two attor- ter’s therapist’s behavior as malprac- neys came together. They responded Editor’s response: The fundamental tice. problem that no reconciliation services that this was ridiculous and we would We are grateful for the support of not pay one cent for false charges. can address is the accuser who refuses to the FMS Foundation—the conversa- have any contact. Unless the accuser is Legal papers were filed against us tion with Pam, the newsletters and the willing to participate in mediation, meet seeking civil damages for over support of others who have experi- with a neutral professional, or communi- $120,000. Our attorneys viewed the enced these nightmares. cate in some way, there is little that can action as extortion and slanderous and It almost cost us our marriage. break the cult-like cocoon. Once an sought a restraining order, which a However, we are together and celebrat- accuser is willing to talk, most well- trained professionals can guide families superior court judge granted. During ed 46 years in June. Other costs this time, our daughter dropped all towards negotiation and possible reconcil- include lawyer fees of over $60,000, iation. charges. the cost of no family members present c Subsequently, we moved out of when a beloved aunt died two years Apologized and Reunited town due to my wife’s employment. ago, the cost of birthdays missed, and But after a year maintaining two resi- not being there for the first grand- A note to inform you that we are dences, we decided to move back to daughter’s graduation. When our min- united with our daughter! She has our hometown. When this happened, ister refused to participate in the legal recanted, apologized to us and reunited

FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 11 with her two brothers as well. She has logical Association are seemingly meeting, but we have discussed future divorced her husband who encouraged impotent to do anything to stop the possibilities. her to keep going to counseling. We practices that continue to destroy fam- We have not broached the subject now know our granddaughter, and ilies all over the world. It seems that of her accusations or the complicated though divorce brings its own prob- the litigation of repressed memory subject of FMS. I am fine with this. lems, we face it now as a family. Our cases has had little effect on “true I want to thank the FMSF and fam- daughter knows she has a family to believers.” If the harmful practices ilies for giving me knowledge, sup- support her. continue in today’s health care cost cli- port, and guidance that has kept me We could not have endured this mate, perhaps the money spigot will be going for the past 20 years. trial of love without your help. Thank shut off for treatments that have not A happy dad you. Thank you. been scientifically validated as safe c A mom and effective. Sadly, the reputation of psy- Please Join Us c Falsely Accused—Again chotherapy has been deeply sullied by It will be three years this the recovered memory fiasco. November since my daughter made I was interested to read the letter in A sad dad her accusation. Although we were once the last newsletter about retractors who c so close that I was included in her daily lapsed into false accusations again college life, I did not see my daughter after years of normalcy. I thought read- After 20 Years graduate with honors. I have not met ers might find our situation interesting. After 20 years, my accusing her “true love” or seen her new home. Our younger daughter was sexual- daughter and I have reconciled. She I do not know what kind of work she is ly assaulted by an ex-minister of our has moved to England, and as a new doing. I do not know if she is happy, church in the fall of 1984. She was in British subject, enrolled with the sad, or sick. and out of therapy for years. In National Health Service (NHS). Upon My only information about her December 1993, she falsely accused learning that there was a family histo- now is gleaned from her social net- me of sexual assault in a classic ry of cancer, the NHS requested a working pages, occasional remarks Courage to Heal ambush and stormed DNA sample from someone in the from someone with whom she may out of town. We had little contact with family who had been diagnosed with have spoken, or the unsolicited letters her for nearly ten years. In 2003, she the disease. I was the only relative who from her once estranged father, who is came to our home and said that there was available to provide that DNA and now her biggest supporter. was no basis for her false accusations she emailed me her request. I replied My daughter cut off everyone who and asked if we could forgive her. She immediately that I was willing. would not support her delusion. Even seemed loving and normal. She even It took several exchanges of mes- though we continue to reach out to her, commented that she was trying to sages to coordinate the collection and I’m afraid that my daughter is lost to make up for her prior conduct. transmittal of the DNA sample. In one me forever, Still I nurture some small About a year ago, our older daugh- of the messages I sent to her, I took the hope that maybe someday she will ter’s child was sexually assaulted by an liberty to request that we start a line of return to us. Perhaps when she has her acquaintance. My daughter put our communication. I stated that I could own children or experiences life’s granddaughter into therapy. In May see no reason to expect “kowtowing” punches she will see things more clear- this older daughter falsely accused me or apologies from either of us, in order ly. of molesting our granddaughter and to establish a new relationship. I sug- Early this year I started a cyber threw us out of her house. We have had gested that we continue to dialog with FMS Support Group because I could hardly any contact with her since. each other on any subject. She did not not find a local group. To date I have Our younger daughter has now return a direct answer to my proposi- met three families from Canada and gotten back into the rant and cut off tion, but she did continue to send me seven families from the United States. contact with us. She has asked that we emails after our DNA business was A few of these families, like me, are not contact her again. Her therapist’s completed. very new to the devastation of FMS. website says that she does EMDR. Six months later, we not only I worry there are many families I continue to be astonished that the exchange emails every two to three who do not have anyone to talk to major professional organizations such days, but we speak on the phone week- about the problem. An accusation of as the American Psychiatric ly. The physical distance between us abuse is such a delicate topic and peo- Association or the American Psycho- has prevented an actual face to face ple worry that they may be wrongly

12 FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 judged by people who do not under- reporting what seemed to be long- entists such as McNally, Clancy, stand. buried memories of childhood sexual Geraerts, Garry, Loftus and the mas- I invite these families to reach out abuse. These traumatic recollections sive 15-year body of work. Will this and join us. Our members are mostly frequently surfaced with the help of article affect the accusing children? mothers, and we chat about the pain recovered-memory therapy tech- How will history record the FMS niques like hypnosis and guided that we continue to experience with the disaster? The Discover article in two imagery, in which patients are encour- loss of our children. But we also aged to visualize terrible experiences. meager paragraphs states, “in early exchange recipes and tell jokes. Cognitive scientists suspected that 1990s, many people began reporting Because we have a common bond, we some of these memories were bogus, what seemed to be long-buried memo- have no fear of judgment. Some of our the unwitting product of suggestion by ry of CSA...” and “Cognitive scientists discussions are very emotional but the therapist.” suspected that some of these memories they are also healing. “Spurred on by the controversy over are bogus.” If you would like to contact me recovered memory, other cognitive How more understated could the about joining our FMS Support Group, scientists found that false memory is a false memory phenomenon be please email me, at: michigan- normal phenomenon. David Rubin, phrased? To the families who were [email protected] . Our group is who studies autobiographical memory affected, it was a tragedy, a disaster of very sensitive and protective of all of at Duke University, observed that untold dimension, not some minor aca- our member’s privacy and security, so adult twins often disagree over who demic experience, an aberration, a when you contact me please do not be experienced something in childhood. miniscule blip on the radar of the Each might believe, for example, that offended by my many questions. memory. he was the one to get pushed off his A Michigan mom bike by a neighbor at age 8. I know that the article was about c Apparently, even the most basic facts the research, but nevertheless I feel deeply that the writer could have writ- What Has Worked and Why? about a past event (such as who expe- rienced it) could be lost.” ten more about the seriousness of the I would like to communicate with Excerpt from McGowan, K. FMS problem than just two para- others in the False Memory Syndrome (2009, July/August). graphs. Foundation about brainstorming ideas Out of the past. Discover, 30(7). Frank Kane to break through our children’s “Stone I would like to comment on the c Walls of Silence.” recent Discover article “Out of the Publish Family Letters What has worked and why? I Past.” Although I believe that it is a in A Book would like to talk to retractors or any- good article, my heart aches for more. We have greatly appreciated the one who has reconnected with their For example, it seems amazing that it work of the Foundation in our person- families. Brothers and sisters would took actual experiments with rodents al tragedy. Only those who have gone work too as I know parents are getting to prove to memory experts that one’s through a similar fate can understand older and some of them have died or memories are so malleable that they the pain and grief a family goes given up. I think together we can find are constantly revised, re-worked, and through when falsely accused by solutions and bring back our children reconstructed as we grow older. another family member. The pain just to their families. As an FMS parent I have learned does not go away. In some ways it is It would also be interesting to hear from the sad, “real-life”, quasi-specific worse than a death because with death from therapists who believe in recov- accusations and allegations and innu- family and friends gather in support to ered memories and also those who do endos that family history is about as help you grieve your loss. With false not. And what changed your mind? I solid and accurate as a bowl of Jello. It accusations, you hope no one learns can be reached at [email protected]. all depends on who is trying to re-cre- about it so you keep it to yourself and Please help. ate it, and under what bias or duress, grieve alone. Janet 978-464-2830 including confabulation and malice. I have a difficult time reading the email: [email protected] I’m glad that lab experiments have FMSF newsletter because I get so finally proved what we FMS parents c angry that most of the people who per- Wishing for More have always known, but will it make petrated this evil have not been held any difference to proponents of “[D]oubts about the standard theory accountable. The only part of the repressed and recovered memories? It of memory were piling up in the world newsletter that I “flee” to are the letters is profoundly discouraging that they outside the neuroscience lab. In the that other families write who have early 1990s many people began seem undeterred by the research of sci-

FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 13 experienced this tragedy. I find solace “therapist” and the hospitalizations she enough to change my mind about com- and comfort in reading them, knowing suffered and, on three occasions, how ing back Ð felt he had hooked me.) I they are among the few who really she nearly lost her life. (Thankfully, could not believe what was happening. understand what we are going through. our daughter recovered and has been It appeared he was not going to treat Would you consider putting the happily united with us all and is now (or even acknowledge) my serious pre- family letters into a print book? doing well.) senting illness. He was going to treat A grieving mom I prepared to leave this therapist’s me for my alleged “repressed memo- Editor’s response: All of the letters office knowing I was never coming ries.” that have appeared in the Newsletters back. The therapist apparently could I told him I was not coming back starting in 1992 are available on the web- not tolerate the idea of my leaving him and left in a state of shock and sadness site. You might look for the books and blurted: “I know why you worked knowing that this damaging therapy Confabulations and True Stories of False so hard to get your daughter back!” was being perpetuated by him. Memories for publishd FMS personal sto- ries. (Obviously not because we loved her When I left, I was overwhelmed and were fearful about her cruel and with profound grief for all the suffer- c The Oldest Repressed Memory unethical “treatment.) He continued: ing and falsely accused parents, their Victim? “You were sexually abused by your “branded” and captive loved ones and father when you were a little girl.” We, the families who are still grieving and I am over 75 years of age. It might the therapist and I, in fact, had never hoping that their adult children will be possible that I have just become the spoken of my birth family, so he could someday return to them. I also contin- oldest victim of the False Memory not have known if my father was even ue to hope that these arrogant thera- Syndrome in the country. Perhaps, in alive when I was a little girl. pists will be exposed some day, the world! Can you believe it? Of Stunned, I countered, “No, I was- stripped of their credentials and pun- course you can if, like our family, you n’t!” He repeated himself and began to ished for their flagrant and uncon- have an adult child who was mentally reach for his appointment book. scionable crimes. kidnaped, isolated, and brainwashed, (Apparently he felt he had done Believe it or not, I did not find any by a therapist who practiced recovered reason to celebrate possibly being memory techniques. But you still may “The oldest repressed memory victim be flabbergasted. I certainly was. SOME BOOKS OF INTEREST in the world.” I just shook, then shud- In the past year, I have experienced Remembering Trauma dered, and wept. some difficulties and have had dozens Richard McNally Nana of doctor and/or therapist visits. c Recently I decided to change psy- Science and Pseudoscience in chotherapists since my current thera- Clinical Psychology “These results suggest appropri- pist is some distance away. Relying on S. O. Lilienfeld, S.J. Lynn, J.M. Lohr ate restraint in situations in which a recommendation, I found an alterna- Psychology Astray: imagination is used as an aid in tive therapist but did not find him Fallacies in Studies of “Repressed searching for or shoring up presum- either knowledgeable or competent for Memory” and Childhood Trauma ably lost memories. When the police my needs. Distrustful of him from the Harrison G. Pope, Jr., M.D. repeatedly ask a suspect to imagine beginning, I left after three sessions. his possible role in a murder he does While with him, however, I talked Remembering Our Childhood: not remember, or when a mental about our FMS daughter who had been How Memory Betrays Us health professional repeatedly very ill while lost to us for six years Karl Sabbagh encourages a client to imagine an (that began 19 years ago). I let him Making Minds and Madness: abusive childhood event, these know the horrors we endured. I told From Hysteria to Depression imagination activities may unknow- him how closely we had worked with Chapter 3 ingly promote a greater belief that the FMS Foundation, FMS families, “A Black Box Named Sybil” particular episodes occurred. The and experts across the country. I also Mikkel Borch-Jacobsen search for fact may create a fiction.” told him about the writing I had done, Try to Remember: Psychiatry’s Garry, M., Manning, C., Loftus, E., & and the meetings FMS groups had Clash Over Meaning, Memory, Sherman, S., (1996). Imagination infla- held. and Mind tion: Imagining a childhood event I described the horrors our daugh- Paul McHugh, M.D., inflates confidence that it occurred. ter endured while with her offending Psychonomic Bulletin, 3, 208-214.

14 FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 Web Sites of Interest NEW MEXICO Albuquerque - 2nd Sat. (BI-MO) @1 pm www.seweb.uci.edu/faculty/loftus/ Southwest Room -Presbyterian Hospital Elizabeth Loftus Maggie 505-662-7521(after 6:30pm) or Sy 505-758-0726 http://www.theisticsatanism.com/asp/ CONTACTS & MEETINGS - NEW YORK Against Satanic Panics UNITED STATES Upstate/Albany Area Elaine 518-399-5749 comp.uark.edu/~lampinen/read.html ALABAMA NORTH CAROLINA The Lampinen Lab False Memory Reading Group, See Georgia Susan 704-538-7202 University of Arkansas ALASKA OHIO www.exploratorium.edu/memory/ Kathleen 907-333-5248 Cleveland ARIZONA Bob & Carole 440-356-4544 The Exploratorium Memory Exhibit Phoenix Pat 480-396-9420 OKLAHOMA www.tmdArchives.org ARKANSAS Oklahoma City The Memory Debate Archives Little Rock Al & Lela 870-363-4368 Dee 405-942-0531 CALIFORNIA OREGON http://www.psyfmfrance.fr Sacramento Jocelyn 530-570-1862 Portland area French False Memory Group San Francisco & North Bay Kathy 503-655-1587 www.psychoheresy- Charles 415-435-9618 PENNSYLVANIA San Francisco & South Bay Wayne (includes S. NJ) aware.org/ministry.html Eric 408-738-0469 Jim & Jo 610-783-0396 The Bobgans question Christian counseling East Bay Area Judy 925-952-4853 TEXAS www.IllinoisFMS.org Central Coast Carole 805-967-8058 Houston Central Orange County Jo or Beverly 713-464-8970 Illinois-Wisconsin FMS Society Chris & Alan 949-733-2925 El Paso www.ltech.net/OHIOarmhp Covina Area Mary Lou 915-595-2966 Ohio Group Floyd & Libby 626-357-2750 UTAH recoveredmemorytherapy.blogspot.com COLORADO Keith 801-467-0669 Colorado Springs Doris 719-488-9738 Matt Stone’s updates on Australia FMS WASHINGTON FLORIDA See Oregon www.bfms.org.uk Central Florida - Please call for mtg. time WISCONSIN British False Memory Society John & Nancy 352-750-5446 Katie & Leo 414-476-0285 or www.religioustolerance.org/sra.htm GEORGIA Susanne & John 608-427-3686 Atlanta Information about Satanic Ritual Abuse Wallie & Jill 770-971-8917 INTERNATIONAL www.angryparents.net ILLINOIS Chicago & Suburbs - 1st Sun. (MO) BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA Parents Against Cruel Therapy Eileen 847-985-7693 or Vancouver & Mainland www.geocities.com/newcosanz Liz 847-827-1056 Lloyd 250-741-8941 Victoria & Vancouver Island New Zealand FMS Group INDIANA Indiana Assn. for Responsible Mental Health John 250-721-3219 www.peterellis.org.nz Practices MANITOBA CANADA Site run by Brian Robinson contains information Pat 317-865-8913 & Helen 574-753-2779 Roma 204-275-5723 about Christchurch Creche and other cases. KANSAS ONTARIO, CANADA London www.werkgroepwfh.nl Wichita - Meeting as called Pat 785-762-2825 Adriaan 519-471-6338 Netherlands FMS Group LOUISIANA Ottawa www.falseallegation.org Sarah 337-235-7656 Eileen 613-836-3294 MAINE Burlington National Child Abuse Ken & Marina 905-637-6030 Defense & Resource Center Portland - 4th Sun. (MO) Bobby 207-878-9812 Waubaushene www.nasw.org/users/markp MARYLAND Paula 705-543-0318 Excerpts from Victims of Memory Carol 410-465-6555 QUEBEC Claudine: [email protected] www.rickross.com/groups/fsm.html MASSACHUSETTS/NEW ENGLAND Andover - 2nd Sun. (MO) @ 1pm 514-620-6397 French and English Ross Institute Frank 978-263-9795 AUSTRALIA www.enigma.se/info/FFI.htm MICHIGAN Evelyn [email protected] FMS in Scandanavia - Janet Hagbom Greater Detroit Area Nancy 248-642-8077 BELGIUM [email protected] www.ncrj.org/ MINNESOTA Terry & Collette 507-642-3630 FRANCE National Center for Reason & Justice Dan & Joan 651-631-2247 afsi.fauxsouvenirs@wabadii,fr www.traumaversterking.nl MISSOURI ISRAEL English language web site of Dutch retractor. Springfield - Quarterly (4th Sat. of Apr., FMS ASSOCIATION fax-972-2-625-9282 NEW ZEALAND www.quackwatch.org Jul., Oct., Jan.) @12:30pm Tom 417-753-4878 & Roxie 417-781-2058 Colleen 09-416-7443 This site is run by Stephen Barrett, M.D. MONTANA SWEDEN www.stopbadtherapy.com Lee & Avone 406-443-3189 Ake Moller FAX 48-431-217-90 UNITED KINGDOM Contains information about filing complaints. NEW HAMPSHIRE Jean 603-772-2269 & Mark 802-872-0847 The British False Memory Society www.FMSFonline.org NEW JERSEY Madeline 44-1225 868-682 Web site of FMS Foundation. Sally 609-927-4147 (Southern)

FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4 15 Copyright © 2009 by the FMS Foundation 1955 Locust Street Do you have access to e-mail? Send a message to Philadelphia, PA 19103-5766 [email protected] Phone: 215-940-1040 Fax: 215-940-1042 if you wish to receive electronic versions of this newsletter [email protected] www.FMSFonline.org and notices of radio and television broadcasts about FMS. All ISSN # 1069-0484 the message need say is “add to the FMS-News”. It would be Pamela Freyd, Ph.D., Executive Director useful, but not necessary, if you add your full name (all addresses and names will remain strictly confidential). FMSF Scientific and Professional Advisory Board October 1, 2009 Aaron T. Beck, M.D., D.M.S., University of Pennsylvania, The False Memory Syndrome Foundation is a qualified 501(c)3 Philadelphia, PA; Terence W. Campbell, Ph.D., Clinical and Forensic corporation with its principal offices in Philadelphia and gov- Psychology, Sterling Heights, MI; Rosalind Cartwright, Ph.D., Rush erned by its Board of Directors. While it encourages participation Presbyterian St. Lukes Medical Center, Chicago, IL; Jean Chapman, by its members in its activities, it must be understood that the Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; Loren Chapman, Ph.D., Foundation has no affiliates and that no other organization or per- University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; Frederick C. Crews, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, CA; Robyn M. Dawes, Ph.D., son is authorized to speak for the Foundation without the prior Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA; David F. Dinges, Ph.D., written approval of the Executive Director. All membership dues University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Henry C. Ellis, Ph.D., and contributions to the Foundation must be forwarded to the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM; Fred H. Frankel, Foundation for its disposition. MBChB, DPM, Harvard University Medical School; George K. ______Ganaway, M.D., Emory University of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; Martin Gardner, Author, Norman, OK; Rochel Gelman, Ph.D., Rutgers The FMSF Newsletter will be published 4 times in 2010 by the University, New Brunswick, NJ; Henry Gleitman, Ph.D., University of False Memory Syndrome Foundation. The newsletter is delivered Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Lila Gleitman, Ph.D., University of electronicaly and it is also available on the FMSF website: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Richard Green, M.D., J.D., Charing Cross Hospital, London; John Hochman, M.D., UCLA Medical www.FMSFonline.org Those without access to the Internet School, Los Angeles, CA; David S. Holmes, Ph.D., University of should contact the Foundation. Kansas, Lawrence, KS; MA; Robert A. Karlin, Ph.D. , Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; Elizabeth Loftus, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, CA; Susan L. McElroy, M.D., University of Your Contribution Will Help Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH; Paul McHugh, M.D., Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Harold Merskey, D.M., University of PLEASE FILL OUT ALL INFORMATION Western Ontario, London, Canada; Spencer Harris Morfit, Author, PLEASE PRINT Westford, MA; Ulric Neisser, Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; Richard Ofshe, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, CA; Emily __Visa: Card # & exp. date:______Carota Orne, B.A., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; __Discover: Card # & exp. date:______Loren Pankratz, Ph.D., Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR; Michael A. Persinger, Ph.D., Laurentian University, Ontario, __Mastercard: # & exp. date:______Canada; August T. Piper, Jr., M.D., Seattle, WA; Harrison Pope, Jr., (Minimum credit card is $25) M.D., Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; James Randi, Author and __Check or Money Order: Payable to FMS Foundation in Magician, Plantation, FL; Henry L. Roediger, III, Ph.D. ,Washington U.S. dollars University, St. Louis, MO; Carolyn Saari, Ph.D., Loyola University, Chicago, IL; Michael A. Simpson, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., M.R.C, D.O.M., Center for Psychosocial & Traumatic Stress, Pretoria, South Signature: ______Africa; Ralph Slovenko, J.D., Ph.D., Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, MI; Jeffrey Victor, Ph.D., Jamestown Community Name: ______College, Jamestown, NY; Hollida Wakefield, M.A., Institute of Psychological Therapies, Northfield, MN; Charles A. Weaver, III, Address:______Ph.D. Baylor University, Waco, TX. Advisors to whom we are grateful who are now deceased. State, ZIP (+4) ______David A. Halperin, M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, Country: ______NY; Ernest Hilgard, Ph.D., Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA; Philip S. Holzman, Ph.D., Harvard University, Cambridge; Harold Lief, M.D., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Martin Orne, M.D., Phone: (______)______Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Campbell Perry, Ph.D., Concordia University, Montreal, Canada; Theodore Sarbin, Fax: (______)______Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz, CA; Thomas A. Sebeok, Ph.D., Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; Margaret Singer, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, CA; Donald Spence, Ph.D., Robert Thank you for your generosity. Wood Johnson Medical Center, Piscataway, NJ.

16 FMS Foundation Newsletter FALL 2009 Vol. 18 No. 4