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An American Tragedy by Jonathan Dolhenty, Ph.D.
The so-called Repressed Memory Syndrome is continuing to cause havoc among some families in the United States. As we were going to press, another frightening report about a family torn apart by unfounded child sexual abuse allegations was broadcast on ABC's news magazine 20/20. Again the perpetrator of this devastating situation was a social worker who apparently planted thoughts of sexual abuse into a young girl's mind. After reviewing the case, a university psychiatrist said the whole matter was reminiscent of the old Salem witch trials. The story is set in St. Mary's County, Maryland. The therapist's name is Catherine Myers. I am more than willing to publish this person's name because her actions in this case were reprehensible, as were the actions of the St. Mary's Sheriff's Department. This is an excellent example of what can happen to any ordinary American family when members of the psychological industry gang up on it and manage to enlist the services of law enforcement. It is a horror story depicting what can actually happen to your family when the government is out to get you. And you are guilty until you prove yourself innocent. The Danny Smith family is pretty much American average. There is Danny, his wife, one daughter and two sons. They live in a nice house and were enjoying a relatively normal life. When the daughter, Donna, was 12 years old, she developed a series of migraine headaches and sought help to get rid of them. She also developed an eating disorder. During the first year of trying to get help, she saw 11 different therapists. The 12th therapist she ended up with was Catherine Myers, a social worker. During a session in therapy with Myers, Donna recounted an incident that occurred while she and her family were living in the Philippines. A neighbor had molested her when she was 3 years old. From that moment on, Myers kept the pressure on to relate other incidents of sexual abuse even though Donna denied there had been any more incidents. Donna was persuaded by Myers to bring a family photo album to therapy. In the album was a picture of Donna taken at probably two or three years of age with underpants on leaning over a bathtub and smiling at the camera. Myers told Donna that this was an example of child pornography. Myers then jumped to the conclusion that it was not a neighbor who had molested her, but her own father. Donna denied this. She continued to deny any molestation by her father for two years. Myers, however, was convinced that Donna's father had abused her and notified the sheriff's department and the child protective services. An investigation was begun. The police asked Mrs. Smith whether Donna had ever sat on her father's lap! The police asked her whether they ever went into the bathroom while Donna was taking a bath! Finally, Donna was convinced by her therapist, Catherine Myers, that she had, in fact, been sexually molested by her father many times over a long period. Donna was, according to Myers, suffering from Repressed Memory Syndrome. Whenever Donna disputed the claims, Myers accused her of being in denial. However persistent Donna was in denying the claims, it did not matter and Myers reported everything to the police. Briefly here are some of the things that happened, unbelievable as they might be:
Donna was institutionalized in a mental hospital, where she was drugged, hypnotized at least 60 times, kept in restraints and was diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder and having at least 65 different personalities living inside her. When Danny Smith finally went to court, he was acquitted by an 11 to 1 vote of the jury, the 11 voting in his favor. Not a shred of evidence of sexual abuse was presented in court and no evidence has been found to this day. Donna has now recanted her story, claiming that she was made to believe her father abused her by the therapist, Catherine Myers.
More on psychiatry and psychology by Dr. Dolhenty: Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Book... Enrich Your Life With a Philosophy Magazine...
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