Dr. Richardson uses an unconventional way to help Anna tap into her childhood memories. What did you think of this method? Did it help or do harm?
Hypnotherapy has been used for many many years. Whether exploring one ‘s inner child or past lives for mental health treatment, I do find it a useful tool. I did find it believable when Dr Richardson used this.
Dr. Richardson’s unconventional treatment method added an interesting dimension to the story. It helped Anna in the long run, but was dangerous and untested which added further tension to an almost suspenseful story. The author used this plot device skillfully and it made Anna more sympathetic.
I was initially appalled as it seemed that it was unethical and unprofessional but then I thought about how this was a child. Maybe it is OK to help a child but with an intent to undo it as the person becomes an adult.
The whole hypnotize and erase and claw back memories is debunked for soooo looong, I just eye-rolled to the next town.
I had not heard of the method Dr. Richardson used, and found it bazaar is this a real thing?
I wasn’t totally a believer in the method she used - it seemed too easy for Anna to just slip back into her memories. I thought the author kind of glossed over this part.
I questioned how effective it would be in the long term but sometimes it is hard to unravel what is actually remembered from what what his heard or told. It seemed it was a bit too easily accepted that it was unlocked and accepted as real memories,
We are in agreement, creating a vault thru hypnosis to lock away memories another weakness in a good story.
Was it right/ethical for her to do this? I don’t know. I get that Dr. Richardson’s primary goal at the time was to help Anna, but I wonder if she ever thought Anna would want to reopen that vault and deal with her past or if she planned on being involved in that process. I have no idea if something like this is even possible, but it worked well in a story so full of characters with ethical issues.
I thought this as just made up for the book and not based on a suggestion of reality.
While they’d a tremendous opportunity for abuse, it helped Anna not to have those memories as a child. I thought it was appropriate that she did ultimately learn what happened in her childhood.