In the interim between accusation and a trial, therapy for a child thought to be a victim is feeling-expressive, insight oriented therapy which may well have the effect of teaching a child to be afraid of a defendant. Especially in criminal trials there is often a long time between an accusation and a child testifying. During this interim, many children are placed in therapy for having been sexually abused, a decision made before the factual issue is determined in the courtroom. Analysis of records of therapy given to 405 children and study of 617 articles and books dealing with treatment show the therapy given to children focuses on getting their feelings about being abused out and acting out those feelings in a variety of techniques. However, all in one way or another encourage and reinforce the expressing of anger and hatred toward the alleged perpetrator.
All therapy is essentially a learning process.
It does not matter what the theoretical approach is or the technique employed. Any impact any form of therapy has derives from its ability to teach a disturbed person something that makes a difference. Therapy with a child is a learning experience. The research evidence on the impact of misleading information on the memories of adults and children is strong and clear. If this occurs with a child in such therapy, there is likely a marked contaminating impact upon the ability of the child to personally recall actual events.