Forensic Considerations in Ritual Trauma Cases (Part 3)

re-associate their memories of abuse at their own pace. Certain therapeutic models can assist with this process, most notably the BASK and PACEM models which are used in the treatment of dissociative disorders, as well as the treatment of ritual trauma survivors. These models can be incorporated very effectively into the play therapy process. “Unless the ritually abused child’s internal dissociative system is addressed, the therapy will not impact the most heavily dissociated, cult-created aspects of the child’s personality. Psychotherapy that fails to address the child’s dissociative system and the associated programming may improve the child’s level of functioning but still leave him or her vulnerable to recontact and ongoing exploitation by the perpetrating cult.”

If the child’s dissociative system manifests distinct and identifiable sub-personalities, it is possible that mind control techniques and programming have been deliberately used in conjunction with the ritual trauma. This usually involves a systematic process that results in layers of programming designed to ensure the child’s allegiance to and use by the cult. In such instances, the therapist may work steadily with the child to “neutralize” several programs, only to discover that there are back-up programs which must still be accessed by the child and dealt with in therapy. These intentionally created programs will often include both “animal” and “spirit” sub-personalities and alters which exist in the child’s consciousness or psyche.

Once a child has been able to work through the various components of his/her trauma, it will be necessary to address the mind control programming to which the child may have been subjected. This involves recall of the programming event, as well as the accompanying “trigger” that is designed to initiate a specific response on the part of the victim. As explained earlier in this material, triggers can be either internal or external and are often in the nature of hand-gestures, use of a particular word or name, a tone or sound, color, etc. Until all cult-created programs can be neutralized, a child will be unable to resist responding to triggers designed to control his or her behavior. This has profound significance when it comes to helping a child prepare for testimony in court. As a result, mental health professionals treating a child may need to provide testimonial assistance in support of any motions which are made to shield the child from contact with the perpetrator(s) during the proceedings.

It is also helpful to understand that, during

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