How Frequent are the beliefs associated with Recovered Memories?
The problem with the practices mentioned above — which are used to some degree by about 25% of psychotherapists according to a study by Poole, et. al (1995) that looked at Ph.D. level clinical psychologists in the United States and Great Britain — is that when they are used, they increase the risk of influence and suggestibility. An extensive body of research in the area of hypnosis, for example, has shown repeatedly that images that arise under hypnosis are strongly held as accurate, may contain many details and may be associated with strong emotion. None of these things indicates historical accuracy. Whether they occur in or out of therapy, some memories may be historically accurate, some distorted or confabulated and some false. The methods associated with recovered memories have been advocated or used within government and private services Australia-wide over the past decade. This has included the widespread promotion of repressed and dissociated memories, satanic and ritiual abu
