Memory retrieval in therapy: recommendations for clinical psychologists and counselorsThe literature on false memories and recovered memory is marked by controversy. It examines the phenomenon that various patients have exhibited: allegedly “losing” memories of trauma, only to regain them later in life (Gavlick, 2001). In these cases, temporary memory loss is attributed to psychological causes (i.e., a traumatic event) rather than known damage to the brain (Gavlick, 2001). While some claim that the creation of false memories through therapeutic practice is a major concern and found associations such as the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF) in the United States and the British False Memory Society (BFMS) in order to fight against errors In professional psychology, other researchers argue that the evidence for "false memory syndrome," or the retrieval of false memories, is weak (Brewin & Andrews, 1998; Pope, 1996). The debate largely arose in the 1990s, although no consensus has yet been reached in the literature. Clearly, the debate is of considerable concern to both clients and therapists. Psychologists and counselors need to understand memory research in order to better serve their clients and better represent themselves professionally without inappropriately using memory retrieval techniques (Farrants, 1998; Gavlick, 2001). The UK Psychotherapy Council suggested in its publication Notes for Practitioners: Recovered Memories of Abuse that therapists should be "aware of research and knowledge in relevant areas such as memory and repression" and that they have a “duty to inform themselves of current theory”. and knowledge” (1997, p. 1; Burman, 2002). This article seeks to update practitioners who work in clinics rather than doing research...... middle of article ......nan, & MacCauley, 2002; Baddeley, Eysecnk, & Anderson, 2009) o Use context reinstatement: encourage the client to elaborate on any relevant details about what they saw, what they felt at that moment, or other sensory information. These signals can encourage reporting more details and activate more associated nodes (spread activation model) o Refrain from asking a lot of questions during recall. The client can only devote attention to a limited number of ideas at a time, so the clinician's repeated suggestions may disrupt retrieval and even interfere with prior memories due to retroactive interference. o Consider encouraging the client to remember events from different points of view or in different orders. This can lead to better recall, because memory traces are complex and contain different types of information, so changing perspective can provide different information.