ABSTRACT
Survivors are engaged in an ongoing search for completion; that is, to be healed and to grow. In addition to their tendency to repeat old scripts and family programs, as well as to maintain homeostasis, survivors also possess an intrinsic desire to develop the self. Some may question why it is necessary to include a discussion of the dynamics of the children of adult survivors of incest. The survivor’s attempt to work through a transference with the father will result in the selection of an abusive mate who outwardly resembles the father. A survivor who does couple with a more emotional man may go through a process of identification with the aggressor by being abusive herself. The interest of preventing family fragmentation and promoting family integrity and health, we recommend always evaluating parent-child interactions and intervening where necessary into the child-rearing transactions as part of the normal course of therapy with survivors.
