LEGAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACHES TOWARDS ADULT SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD INCEST - IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES

This article examines the role of the feminist therapist when an adult client is grappling with what seems to be memories of childhood sexua l abuse, It draws from research conducted on the process of rememberin g and coming to terms with sexual abuse for adult survivors of incest. The article uses a Michigan civil statute of limitations as an exampl e of a civil law with which sexual abuse survivors in Michigan must co ntend if they wish to seek compensation through the legal system. It t hen briefly describes an alternative approach to incest survivors' civ il cases, the discovery rule. It subsequently moves beyond specific st atutes to raise questions as to whether or not the legal system is the best arena in which to solve complex psychological dilemmas. Finally, the article suggests a reasonable stance from which a feminist therap ist can work in order to empower her client and herself.