False memories - BBC London News

Summary

Carol, a London nurse, falsely accused her family of satanic abuse and murder after undergoing therapy involving hypnosis for headaches. Her tragic story led to her father's heartbreak and her untimely death. Now, Carol's relatives campaign for regulation of such therapies, which have falsely implicated many in similar cases. Memory expert Dr. Julia Shaw supports the need for regulation to prevent the spread of false memories, which divert resources from genuine abuse victims. The family seeks justice and regulation to prevent further devastation.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Carol achieved her dream of becoming a London nurse.
• 😰 Carol falsely accused her family of satanic abuse and murder after undergoing therapy under hypnosis.
• 💔 The false allegations broke Carol's father's heart and caused immense grief.
• 🧠 Carol's early life memories were replaced with horrific, false memories due to the therapy.
• 🏥 Dr. Julia Shaw, a memory expert, has researched cases of false memory and warns of the dangers of leading questions in therapy.
• 🇬🇧 The UK Council of Psychotherapists has discredited the hypnosis technique used on Carol.
• 👥 Carol's relatives are leading a campaign to help other families falsely accused after similar therapy.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 There are many victims of real sexual abuse who need support, but resources are being misdirected towards false cases.
• 🚫 Dr. Shaw emphasizes the need for more regulation in the field to prevent such false memories from being created.
• 📢 Families are calling for proper regulation to prevent more families from being torn apart by false memories induced by hypnosis.

Q & A

What was Carol's dream job?

Carol's dream was to become a London nurse.

What therapy did Carol undergo that led to serious allegations against her family?

Carol underwent therapy under hypnosis to help with her headaches, which led her to falsely accuse her family of satanic abuse and murder.

How did the false allegations impact Carol's father?

The false allegations broke Carol's father's heart.

What was the consequence of the therapy on Carol's memory?

The therapy wiped out Carol's early life memories and replaced them with horrific, false memories.

What is the campaign led by Carol's relatives about?

Carol's relatives are leading a campaign to help other families who believe they've been falsely accused after their loved ones underwent similar therapy.

What does the campaign aim to achieve?

The campaign aims for proper regulation to prevent other families from being torn apart by false memories recovered through hypnosis.

What is Dr. Julia Shaw's professional opinion on the hypnosis therapy?

Dr. Julia Shaw, a memory expert, believes that more regulation is needed in this field and that there are risks associated with going into people's pasts and asking leading questions.

What has the UK Council of Psychotherapists done regarding this technique?

The UK Council of Psychotherapists has already discredited the technique of using hypnosis to recover memories.

How does Dr. Shaw differentiate between real victims of abuse and those with false memories?

Real victims have been traumatized and can remember that trauma, whereas those with false memories do not need a therapist to unblock their memories.

What is the goal of the families contacting the FEL?

The goal of the families contacting the FEL is to seek support and regulation to prevent others from experiencing the same false accusations and family pain caused by the therapy.

What is the final message from Carol's relatives and the families involved?

Carol's relatives and the families involved are determined to fight for proper regulation until another family is not torn apart by false memories.