NCJ Number
49860
Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Dated: (1969) Pages: 152-157
Date Published
1969
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A PSYCHIATRIST'S OBSERVATIONS OF SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF ENFORCED PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR OFFENDERS ARE RECOUNTED.
Abstract
THIS PRESENTATION IS BASED ON WORK DONE BY THE AUTHOR OVER THE 8-YEAR PERIOD PRIOR TO WRITING THIS PAPER ON THE MASSACHUSETTS COURT CLINIC SYSTEM, WHERE CLIENTS ARE UNDER EXPLICIT OR IMPLICIT DURESS TO ATTEND PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC INTERVIEWS WITH THE COURT CLINIC PSYCHIATRIST. THE ENFORCED ASPECT OF THE PSYCHOTHERAPY IS USUALLY DUE TO IT BEING A CONDITION OF PROBATION OR A SUSPENDED SENTENCE. WHILE IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ENFORCED PSYCHOTHERAPY APPARENTLY SOMETIMES STIMULATES AN UNCOOPERATIVE ATTITUDE ON THE PART OF CLIENTS, IT IS OBSERVED THAT TREATMENT IN THE CLINIC CONTEXT IS MOST OFTEN SIMILAR TO THAT DONE WITH PRIVATE CLIENTS WHO COME VOLUNTARILY FOR TREATMENT. IT IS NOTED THAT IN SOME CASES THE ENFORCED CHARACTER OF THE TREATMENT ENABLES THE CLIENT TO PROTECT HIS IDENTITY OF BEING UNCOOPERATIVE WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT WHILE RECEIVING THE KIND OF GUIDANCE HE HAS SECRETLY WANTED. BELIEVING THAT MOST JUVENILE OFFENDERS WOULD RARELY SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP VOLUNTARILY, THE ENFORCED TREATMENT IS VIEWED AS A WAY OF PLACING THEM IN A CONTEXT WHERE CHANGE CAN OCCUR. IN THE EARLY STAGES OF TREATMENT, THE ENFORCED CHARACTER OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PSYCHOTHERAPIST IS SEEN AS NECESSARY TO COMBAT THE PREDICTABLE URGE OF THE CLIENT TO AVOID FACING DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES PAINFUL PROBLEMS. THE AUTHOR'S EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT WHEN TREATING DELINQUENT ADOLESCENTS, THERE IS LESS NEED TO ENFORCE PSYCHOTHERAPY AS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE THERAPIST DEVELOPS. CASE HISTORIES SUBSTANTIATING THE AUTHOR'S OBSERVATIONS AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)