NCJ Number
131798
Journal
Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1991) Pages: 42-50
Date Published
1991
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Presenting a rationale for applying a relapse prevention model in the treatment of sexual offenders, this article describes a general model formulated from the cognitive/behavioral treatment of addictive behaviors and proposes guidelines for the application of this model to the treatment of sexual offenders.
Abstract
The relapse prevention model, when applied to sexual offenders, conceptualizes sexual abuse as a self-control problem in which the offender is trying to eliminate and/or control his maladaptive sexual impulses toward children. This conceptualization allows each of the four stages in the general relapse prevention model to be related to the sexual offender's problem. Stage four indicates that offenders must be taught how to correct the distortions and rationalizations they use to justify their behavior and learn specifically "what to say and do" in these situations. 13 references (Author abstract modified)