What did the defenses of Ted Bundy, O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson, Phil Spectre, Bill Crosby, Harvey Weinstein and Ghislaine Maxwell have in common? Each of these sickening cases used the misnomer, ‘False Memory Syndrome’ (FMS) as a strategy to discredit their accusers. The other common factor in these cases is calling Professor Elizabeth Loftus as an expert witness on memory.
It was 10.00pm on 30 October 2002. I was sitting in my car at traffic lights on the crossroads of North Road and Nepean Highway. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw two figures step off the pavement. I didn’t pay attention as it appeared they were crossing the road behind me. Suddenly, the front and back passenger doors were yanked open.
“Is your foot sore?”, I innocently asked. Part way through a session I noticed my client pressing her foot into the floor. Her face froze. She looked like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights. Her expression was a combination of shock (at my noticing) and shame (for something of which I had no idea). I was perplexed by her reaction. I sat quietly and waited. After a few seconds she replied, “No. I have a thumb-tack in my shoe and I’m pressing my foot down on it.”
On 3 February 2023, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced approval of the psychedelic substances in magic mushrooms and MDMA for use by people with certain mental health conditions, specifically PTSD and treatment resistant depression. This makes Australia the first country in the world to recognise psychedelics as medicines. In this interview, I explore the current psychedelic research in Australia with Martin Williams, PhD.
The innocuous term ‘in the public interest’, does not scrape the surface of the personal devastation and lifelong impacts on whistleblowers and the people they try to protect. The Public Interest Disclosure Act as it currently stands does not serve the public or whistleblowers acting in the public interest.
In this opinion piece I muse about the language of trauma, social media, quick fixes, and shortened attention spans, without reaching any great conclusion. But, I suggest the issues discussed here are important for us to reflect upon, as trauma therapists, lawyers, human resources managers, magistrates, judges and as human beings doing our best to relate to each other in meaningful ways. So, I invite you to come along for the ride anyway.
In July 2026, a man sentenced to 21 years jail for sexually abusing his two daughters when they were children, was granted leave to appeal his sentence handed down in December 2024 in the Newcastle District Court. The grounds of the appeal were that one of his daughters who has a diagnosis of DID had different Parts of her personality system individually sworn in to give evidence. The appeal argues that these Parts are not recognised by law and their swearing in should not have been allowed.
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