ABSTRACT
Most therapists who work with survivors agree that the stress for therapists may be greater than in many other areas of work. Given the high incidence of sexual abuse, it is quite likely that some therapists will themselves be abuse survivors. Even if the therapist is not an abuse survivor herself, the material discussed by clients may make her feel shaken. Working with sexual abuse can therefore trigger memories of abuse for therapists; these memories may refer to facts previously known, or may be brought into awareness for the first time, e.g. in the form of "flashbacks" in response to material discussed by clients. The dilemmas posed in the chapter relate not only to aspects of technique, but to the therapist's own emotions and patterns of behaviour becoming caught up in therapeutic decisions.
