A qualitative analysis of adult incest survivors’ responses to sexual involvement with therapists

A qualitative analysis of adult incest survivors' responses to sexual involvement with therapists

Six women who had histories of incest and had been sexually involved with therapists participated in qualitative research employing semi-structured, open-ended interviews. Transcribed interviews were content analyzed for recurrent regularities in toplcs, themes, events, and dynamics. Following content and cluster analyses of interviews, three overall themes emerged that appeared most salient in attempting to understand the development and maintenance of therapeutic relationships in which incest survivors experienced additional abuse. The themes were (1) early environment that prohibited the development of a sense of “personhood” in incest survivors, (2) repeated experiences of depersonalization inside and outside of therapy that reinforced a state of non-personhood, and (3) adoption of a “surrender pattern” to cope with violations, including therapist violations.

Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Psychiatry and Mental health

Incest survivors, Abuse by therapists, Sexualized therapy