PSYCHOTHERAPY PROCESS VARIABLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RETRIEVAL OF MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE - A QUALITATIVE STUDY

This study investigated, from the client's perspective, how the therap eutic process is associated with the retrieval of sexual abuse memorie s in psychotherapy. A qualitative analysis was applied to the transcri pts of semistructured interviews of 11 adult women who identified them selves as victims of childhood sexual abuse and as retrieving memories of abuse during ongoing or past psychotherapy. Results are reported a s themes or codes that represent participants' perspectives about the therapeutic process. Noteworthy codes are organized within the categor ies of (a) the therapeutic relationship, (b) therapeutic effects, (c) therapist characteristics, and (d) therapy techniques.