Recovered-Memory Therapy

Recovered-memory therapy (RMT) is a controversial and scientifically discredited form of psychotherapy that uses one or more unproven techniques, such as some forms of psychoanalysis, hypnosis, journaling, past life regression, guided imagery and sodium amytal interviews, to purportedly help patients recall previously forgotten memories. Proponents claim, contrary to evidence, that traumatic memories can be buried in the subconscious and affect current behavior, and that RMT techniques can recover them; RMT is not recommended by professional mental health associations, and it can result in patients developing false memories, including of childhood sexual abuse and events such as alien abduction that did not actually occur.