ABSTRACT
Trauma resulting in memory impairment is well documented. Recovered memory is a complex and distressing process whose veracity is variable. There are different kinds of memory but conscious awareness is only inherent in semantic and episodic memory. Encoding, consolidation and retrieval across the lifespan, result in memory that is reconstructive and inherently prone to error. When trauma results in dissociation, compartmentalization and dissociative detachment disrupt the ordinary processes of memory function and the individual’s sense of autobiographical self. These mechanisms are described and illustrated by clinical material, including a case study. Observations regarding therapy with traumatized individuals are made, including the need for therapists to appropriately meet the challenges of working with those who present with impaired memory.
