COMMON THEMES IN THE EXPERIENCES OF MOTHER-DAUGHTER INCEST SURVIVORS - IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELING

A qualitative method was used to explore the phenomenon of mother-daug hter incest. Common themes were extracted from in-depth interviews wit h survivors of mother-perpetrated sexual abuse, some of which parallel the experience of survivors of other forms of child sexual abuse, and some of which are more specific to mother-daughter incest. These them es are discussed in detail. Counseling implications are discussed and treatment recommendations are made for therapists working with adult s urvivors of maternal sexual abuse.