The gynecological care experience of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse: a preliminary investigation.

The gynecological care experiences of 44 adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and 30 non-abused controls were investigated and compared. On a self-administered survey, survivors rated the gynecological care experience more negatively than the controls, experienced more intensely negative feelings, and reported being more uncomfortable during almost every stage of the gynecological examination than did the controls. Survivors also reported more trauma-like responses during the gynecological examination, including overwhelming emotions, intrusive or unwanted thoughts, memories, body memories, and feelings of detachment from their bodies.

"Telling one's story" in an incest survivors group.

This article discusses the technical considerations that contribute to making "telling one's story" in an incest survivors group a ritual of active mastery leading to psychological growth. Survivors approach the task of sharing memories with a variety of wishes and fears that can emerge as powerful group transference paradigms. These paradigms, while they vividly illuminate the survivor's past and present interpersonal expectations, can threaten to derail the telling experience.