Qualitative Studies in Family Psychotherapy

Due to the high profile of the "false memory" debates and the questions that are creating dialogue to this postmodern mental health arena in general, it is important to also remember the "voices" of the survivors and the impact of their stories in the process of their healing. This study with a social construction lens focuses on those "voices" in a qualitative study that explores the process and meaning through stories of the process of disclosure of sexual assault or incest by the survivors to their families of origin members. Further, the process of disclosure is much debated in its relationship to the process of healing from abuse and this discourse further explores that relationship and its implications such as how the past disclosure has affected current relationships from the survivor's view. The research questions which were of a self-report format were prepared by the researchers to understand these four general areas of the disclosure process: (1) preparation, support, and therapy experiences predisclosure, (2) the story of the disclosure itself, (3) the shaping of relationships in the family as a result of the disclosure, and (4) personal meanings which the survivor attributes to the act of disclosure. Results are discussed in terms of emergent themes which are illustrated in the text. Further, implications are discussed such as languaging, the central role in the disclosure process which many of the participants attributed to friends and confidants, and creating space for multiple voices that had previously experienced subjugation. Recommendations for future research and implications for treatment are suggested.