Case study using mental imagery with an asylum seeker suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder to female genital mutilation and multiple instances of sexual violence

Journal article

This paper describes a single case study of a female asylum seeker presenting at a specialist clinic for women with female genital mutilation (FGM). The patient presented with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to multiple events due to her 45-year history of sexual and physical abuse. She also had intense feelings of being contaminated due to the sexual abuse. Within the cognitive model, a cognitive restructuring and imagery modification protocol was used to treat the patient’s feelings of being contaminated. After that, imagery rescripting was used to address the patient’s many PTSD re-experiencing symptoms. Clinicians can often feel overwhelmed when working with patients who present with multiple, traumatic events spanning many years; it is hoped that this case study helps clinicians to feel more confident about working with this client group and with women with FGM. Key learning aims: (1) To be able to assess and treat survivors of multiple sexual assaults over many years using imagery rescripting. (2) To learn how to use cognitive restructuring and imagery modification to treat feelings of being contaminated. (3) For therapists to gain confidence with working with women who have experienced female genital mutilation.

Authors: Dixon, L; Young, K; Kelly, B

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Journal: The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist
• Volume: 19
• Article number: e1
• Publication date: 2026-01-06
• Acceptance date: 2025-11-03
• DOI: 10.1017/s1754470x2510041x
• EISSN: 1754-470X
• ISSN: 1754-470X
• Language: English
• Keywords: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT); imagery rescripting; female genital mutilation (FGM); sexual assault; cognitive restructuring and imagery modification (CRIM)