The Retractors Voice - Issue 3

I am a social worker who developed and operated sexual assault victim services from the mid 1970's until the late 1980's. I returned to school to obtain my doctoral degree and chose as my dissertation topic a comparison of state crime victim compensation programs and administrative procedures. Finding that sexual assault victims were receiving three-fourths of all benefits(mostly for mental health counseling), and realizing that these numbers were excessive in terms of the proportions of victims who experience sexual assault and require counseling, I began to explore these issues further.

At first, I suspected that the problem could be attributed to therapists "over servicing" legitimate victims, but as I looked further, I began to recognize that other even wore insidious practices were responsible. I refer specifically to the implantation of false memories and the "interpretation" of children's statements or actions as indicating abuse. Last year my first book,"Paying for Crime... " which explores the various means by which victims can be reimbursed --and notes the ease with which false claims can be compensated as well -- was published by Praeger.

Since then, I have written a number of shorter pieces on these issues. One suggested that "false memory syndrome" may have been invented for no other reason than to get around statutes of limitation on the reporting of crimes so women who had always remembered being abused could claim. I base this on my own experience working with victims as well as my knowledge of the timing and politics involved in how these issues emerged. I have also begun research for a second book, "Sanctified Snake Oil," which will explore how and why government entities accept and perpetuate "junk science" in the social sciences.

I am particularly interested in documenting the "money trail" that encourages therapists to"create" victims. I would like to hear from any retractors who might be willing to share information about how your RMT therapists, or other people who "helped" you to "retrieve"memories, approached the issues of payment for services, litigation against abusers" and other money issues. I will promise to maintain your confidentiality unless you give me explicit permission to identify you. I would be happy to answer any questions or provide you with additional information about myself to ensure the legitimacy of my request.

Thank you in advance for any help readers are willing to provide. I will use this information in utmost confidence only to expose the way that financial issues seem to drive the RMT movement.

Susan Kiss Sarnoff.

DSW8O Meadow Street
Garden City, NY 11530-6241
telephone and fax 516/873-9776 {call first)
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