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OARMHP OHIO ASSOCIATION OF RESPONSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICES
Today we are featuring Dr. Donald Lichi. I first met Dr. Lichi at a program in Ohio featuring the Rutherfords. He was a friend of Tom Rutherford. Later I learned of his interest and concern for families involved in the FMS scene. We sent some families to him for help, especially families who were trying to deal with reconciliation. Every family came back and raved about how wonderful he was and how much he helped them. Several Ohio families are back together because of Dr. Lichi and I want to applaud and recognize his great help. and understanding of what FMS families go through. it does not matter if it is the parents, siblings, the son or daughter who has been duped into believing this nonsense a friend or other family member - All suffer. My only regret is that Dr. Lichi is not still doing counseling work. But we wish him well ad know he is doing a good job in his current endeavor. Carole K. An Interview with Donald A. Lichi, Ph.D. Psychologist, President Chapel Hill Christian School
What is your background? I am a native of Ohio but served in the U.S. Air Force in the Vietnam Era; 3 1/2 years in Italy and 3 years in Alaska. I completed a degree in education and taught school for 6 years in the early 80's. My intention was to get a Master's degree in counseling in order to better help families...especially do preventative type counseling. I did complete a M.S. degree from the University of Akron in 1984 and did a year of post-grad work in marriage and family counseling. I then entered a Ph.D. in Psychology program at the U. of Akron and completed the degree in 1993. I am currently a licensed psychologist in Ohio. I am married (32 years), have three children, a daughter-in-law and a 1 year old grandson.
How long were you at Emerge? I served at EMERGE for 10 years as Executive Vice President and Director of Education. While there, I worked with a wonderful, professional and support staff under the leadership of Dr. Richard Dobbins. Dr. Dobbins is a close friend and mentor. I owe him a great deal in terms of influence on my professional work. He is truly a pioneer and leader in the area of Christian mental health. I was privileged to direct the Ashland Seminary/EMERGE Master's program in Clinical Pastoral Counseling as well as the Institute of Pastoral Counseling, supervise, teach, write and speak at workshops and seminars in addition to counseling.
How long have you been at your present position and how do you like it? I have been the President of Chapel Hill Christian School for two years now and love the ministry very much. We have nearly 600 students on two campuses (Cuyahoga Falls and Green) with grades Pre-K to Grade 6. We have over 90 people on staff and offer a first rate academic program with a solid Christian base.
When and from whom did you first learn about False Memory Syndrome? I read a great deal about FMS, and especially got interested when stories emerged in counseling that seemed quite unbelievable. This led to further research, supervision and learning from many experts in the field.
How do you treat such families? First and foremost, we all know that abuse does in fact exist. This is always tragic and should be dealt with both in the legal arena as well as by competent mental health professionals. However, there is an entire segment of the population that has been falsely accused of abuse and "memories" are created by the strong suggestion of some therapists. For this I have little patience. It is inexcusable for example for a therapist to "suggest" a person has probably been abused based on symptoms alone. Many therapists are either ignorant of their power of suggestion or in some cases, simply have a need to "correctly interpret" and diagnose based on sketchy information given by a client. Further, I have personally seen the devastation that occurs when parents are falsely accused of abuse. I have seen families ripped apart and sometimes have gone years without communication simply based on the fact that a therapist has suggested abuse. Even this past week (May 2003) I received a call from a leader in a Religious denomination in Canada where one of their district officials was accused of "demonizing" their daughter. The therapist was using a Theophostic approach to counseling. The daughter is now estranged from her parents.
How are they different that other families with problems? Parents in FMS situations feel helpless to reach out to their children. Often there is no allowance for objectivity or reconciliation in these families. I have most often seen a total lack of communication, which makes reconciliation virtually impossible.
Have you seen much of it in your practice? I have seen enough to be angered by the practices of some irresponsible therapists. When I was in practice, I would say that I saw at least a dozen separate situations in the past 5 years.
Anything else you would like to share? I appreciate the work of Dr. Elizabeth Loftus. I believe that families who have been victimized by FMS keep a strong support group together. I suggest that you do what you can to keep the lines of communication open as much as possible. Don't forget to pray about the situation. I am a strong believer that God can and will answer prayer. Don't lose hope in eventually reconciling. I have seen some of the most difficult situations be resolved in a positive way. If you do go to counseling, don't hesitate to ask the counselor his/her position on "recovered memory" therapy.
These answers and opinions are Dr. Lichi’s and do not in any way represent EMERGE or any other organization. Two important friends of FMS families have died in May. Campbell Perry, who is on the advisory board and Richard Gardner. See the following articles. ____________________________ GARDNER, RICHARD A., M.D. A child and adult psychiatrist and psychoanalyst practicing in Cresskill, N.J. died Sunday at his home in Tenafly, N.J. He was 72. He had been a clinical professor of psychiatry and faculty member in the division of child psychology at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons since 1963. Dr. Gardner authored more that 40 books and 300 articles on psychiatric issues related to children and families. In 1970, he wrote the highly acclaimed book for children, "The Boys and Girls Book About Divorce.” He created the first psychotherapeutic board game, "The Talking, Feeling and Doing Game" in 1973, and later the "mutual storytelling technique". In the last 20 years, he devoted himself to high conflict child-custody disputes, serving as court evaluator in more that 400 cases. His most recent work was on evaluating and treating families affected by a disorder he identified as the parental alienation syndrome. Dr. Gardner was born April 28, 1931 and attended the Bronx High School of Science, Columbia College and SUNY School of Medicine. He lectured extensively in the U.S. and abroad. He is survived by his mother, Amelia Gardner, three children, Andrew Gardner, Nancy Gardner Rubin and Julie Gardner Mandelcorn and their spouses, by eight grandchildren and by his partner, Natalie Weiss. The New York Times 5/28/03 ____________________________
To all members of the FMS foundation, I regret to inform members that Cam Perry died in a fire that occurred in his apartment last night in Montreal. Cam was 63 years old. Many of us have known Cam for years as a colleague. Professor emeritus at Concordia University, Cam devoted his career to the field of hypnosis. For those of you who may want more information, please contact me through the back channels. Adriaan Mak Canadians remember with great fondness Concordia University Professor, Hypnosis and Memory specialist, a False Memory Syndrome Foundation Board member, who seldom missed a meeting of Canadian Parents Falsely Accused of Incest : Dr Campbell Perry. Cam was also an advisory Board member of the Australian False Memory Association News of his tragic death reached us through his former student and colleague Dr Jean-Roch Laurence, who also has acted as witness for the defense in False Memory cases. Jean-Roch Laurence, Ph.D. Dept. of Psychology, Concordia University West Montreal, Quebec, Canada ____________________________ From: Grahame Forrest, Australian False Memory Society.
I am greatly grieved to hear that Campbell Perry has died. It was when Professor Perry was on a visit to Australia, his place of birth, that I heard him interviewed by Jennifer Byrne on ABC Sydney Metro 702. I had the opportunity to speak with him on the phone and am indebted to him for referring me to AFMA. His sympathetic ear to my anguish at that time, early after I was accused, and his characterization of The Courage To Heal as the worst book ever published was an important support to me. We have lost a friend who scorned the pseudo-science of those therapists who don't realise that their expectations, being confirmed by each of their clients discovering recovered memories of vile practices in their family, are simply their clients' worst fantasies, not reality. SURVEY RESULTS There was a report on the recent survey sent to 4,400 FMSF members. 1,856 (42%) were returned to the Foundation. Of these, 1,734 were analyzed. The ones not analyzed were confusing, or sent in by children or non-members. The survey showed hat 93% of the accusers were female; 99% were white; 75% had completed college and 96% were in therapy when they made the accusations. RETRACTORS The survey concerned Retractors (8%). They recognize they have been mistreated by their therapists. They are reading and learning more about what they have been through in therapy. They are appreciative of their families. RETURNERS They are quieter; not as depressed as when they were in therapy; and able to show some affection toward families. They make up 36% of the survey. They have not retracted the accusations but have made contact with their families. REFUSERS They still believe the accusations and actively provoke their families. They compose 56% of the families who returned their surveys. If the family members are unanimous in welcoming home the former RMT patient the recovery process goes more smoothly. If the patient went public with the false accusations, it is harder to reconcile. Accused parents who had reconciled with their accusers made the following suggestions: try to make some contact; use a mediator; keep the door open; and show love. In the survey, 82% of the accused are fathers; 80% of these accused fathers are executives or managers.
This article is taken from the INDIANA ASSOCIATION FOR RESPONSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICES November 2002 meeting notes. OHIO ASSOCIATION OF RESPONSIBLE MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICES 440-356-4544 WWW.LTECH.NET/OHIOARMHP
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July
2003