Use of memory techniques with survivors of child sexual abuse: a national survey of psychotherapists

Mental health professionals from four different organizations representing five different groups (master's-level counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists; and doctorate-level psychologists and marriage and family therapists) were surveyed (1250 total), with a final response rate of 29.2%) of potentially eligible participants (N = 339). Relationships between mental health field and practice with CSA clients were examined. Participants reported using memory-related techniques only occasionally to never, and appeared, as a group, skeptical of the accuracy of memories elicited using these techniques. Also, participants reported little specific training in using these techniques with CSA survivors, and low levels of perceived competency in their use. Only a few group differences were found in training and perceived competency in use of memory-related techniques; no pattern in these differences was identified. No differences were found between groups in perceived accuracy of memories elicited using memory-related techniques. When the relationships between participant CSA history and practice and training variables were examined, it was found that those with a history of CSA reported using most memory-related techniques more often, and felt more competent in their use, than those without a history of CSA. No significant relationships were found between participant CSA history and perceived accuracy of the techniques or training in their use. Possible predictors of use of memory-related techniques were also examined. After controlling for participant variables (age, gender, experience, CSA history), it was found that amount of training in the technique, perceived competency in its use, and perceived accuracy of memories elicited using it, were all significantly predictive of the use of art therapy, body memory interpretation, journaling, guided imagery, and hypnosis (accounting for 57.8%, 60.4%), 54.2%, 56.7%, and 61.0% of the variance in use of each technique, respectively). Also, it was found that perceived competency in use of the technique and perceived accuracy of memories elicited using it were significantly predictive of the use of dream interpretation and story-telling (accounting for 49.9% and 55.8%) of the variance in the use of each technique, respectively).