She told Mark Pendergrast for his 1995 book "Victims of Memory: Incest Accusations and Shattered Lives" that she considered herself to be a caring, idealistic person. She began her career helping migrant workers and Head Start children.
According to her resume she worked with mentally retarded in Ohio and had a practice in New York state before moving to Houston with her family in the early 1980s. In Houston she started a private practice that seemed to be successful. She had been described as "brilliant." Peterson was certified in clinical hypnosis in 1988.
In 1987, Peterson joined a local 'dissociative disorders study group' according to Bonnie Gangelhoff in a "Houston Press" article in July, 1995. There was not much literature available at that time and the group, composed of social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists, helped to educate each other.
By the middle of the 1980s stories of satanic ritual abuse began to be heard from patients. These stories were also heard in Houston and the group disagreed over their veracity. Peterson told the group that she had heard these stories.
Peterson acquired a reputation as an expert on recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse even before she joined Spring Shadows Glen. That reputation came from a paper she wrote about her diagnosis of MPD in Kathryn Schwiderski.
A colleague from the dissociative group said that Peterson viewed herself as a pioneer on a new frontier of psychology with her work in MPD and satanic ritual abuse.
Available from:
Cavalcade Productions Inc.
PO Box 2480
Nevada City, CA 95959 Phone/Fax 800-345-5530
Video: "Mastering Traumatic Memories"
Judith Peterson, Ph.D., Roberta Sachs, Ph.D., and Kathy Steele, MN
| 1. Introduction, Interview, Abreaction: provides a comprehensive introduction, as well as a model preparatory interview and a sample abreactive session. Subtopics include indicators for not doing abreactive work, ideomotor signals, hypnotic induction, creating a safe context, controlling affect, and safety for vulnerable alters. (#D-228, 92 min. Purchase $150, rental #50.) | 2. Special Issues: explores a variety of difficult clinical situations: alters who block therapy, self mutilation, spontaneous abreactions, homicidal alters, out-of-control behavior, and character pathology. (#D-229, 73 min. Purchase $125, rental $40.) | 3. Advanced Techniques: demonstrates specific therapeutic techniques, including: age regression, cognitive restructuring, hypnotic fractionation, and time distortion. (#D-229A, 36 min. Purchase $95. rental $35.) Series of 3: purchase $295, rental $100. |
Available from:
Audio Transcripts, Ltd
3660-B Wheeler Ave
Alexandria, VA 22304
703-370-8273 phone 703-370-5162 fax
| From the Dissociation Audio Library (1989-1993) |
834-93-30 Introduction to Memory Processing Techniques Judith Peterson, Ph.D. 2 Cassettes $50.00
834-93-36 Memory Processing Techniques - Advanced Level
742-92-32 Managing Abreactions in the Treatment of MPD
683-91-IVa THE USE OF HYPNOSIS - Chair: Marlene Hunter,M.D.
595-90-IVd CASE STUDIES Chair: Marilyn Wideman, MSN, RN; Case Study of
Four Family Members of a Transgenerational Orthodox Satanic Cult with
MPD - Judith Peterson, Ph.D.; Cynthia Zarling, Ph.D. |
Also available from Audio Transcripts, Ltd.
| The Tenth International Conference on Multiple Personality/Dissociative States. Special Emphasis: Dissociative Disorders - The Next Ten Years. Bennett G. Braun, Program Chairman, Chicago, Illinois, SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM, October 15, 1993 |
IIIA. FAMILY ISSUES - Families of Victims of Profound Sadomasochistic Abuse: Characteristics and Treatment...Judith Peterson, Ph.D.; Patricia G. Taylor, MSW-CSW; Deborah Y. Felio, MA, LPC; Treating the Dissociative Couple: Who's on First when Both Partners Present a Dissociative Disorder:...Monica B. Tiscione, Ph.D.; The Immigration Experience as a Contributing Factor to Incest... Helen R. Friedman, Ph.D. $12.00 IVB. MANAGED CARE - Diagnosis and Prognosis: Taking a Hard Look at Our Successes and Failures...Judith Peterson, Ph.D.; A Proposed Model to Treat Dissociative Disorder/Multiple Personality Disorder Patients in a Managed Care Setting...Ed S. Jesalva, MD; Synchronizing the Treatment of the MPD Patient: Art Therapy and Verbal Psychotherapy...Mindy Jacobson, MCAT, ATR $12.00
Pre-Conference Institutes
Advanced Workshop |
Available from:
Family Violence & Sexual Assault Institute
1310 Clinic Drive
Tyler, TX 75701
903-595-6600 FVSAI Book Club
| Processing Memories Retrieved by Trauma Victims and Survivors: A Primer for Therapists - R. Sachs & J. Peterson (1994) Retail $16.95 |
Articles in "Treating Abuse Today":
Peterson, Judith A. "False Memory Accusations: What Clinicians Should Know If Charges Are Filed," Treating Abuse Today, May/June 1997, Vol. 7, No.3.
Peterson, Judith A. "When the Therapists Who Have Sat With Shattered Souls Are Themselves Shattered," Treating Abuse Today, March/April 1994, v. 4, (2), p. 26-27.
Peterson, Judith A. and Martha C. Dean. "Hanging Together or Hanging Separately: Facing the Dilema of Colleagues Charged with Implanting False Memories," Treating Abuse Today, May/June 1997, Vol. 7, No. 3.