NCJ Number
199166
Journal
The Journal of Sexual Aggression Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: 2002 Pages: 59-73
Date Published
2002
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article discusses sexual offender treatment by focusing on cognitive behavioral programs.
Abstract
After discussing the dominance of cognitive behavioral intervention in work with sex offenders, the author focuses on the usefulness of aspects of both the behavioral and the cognitive therapy approaches by addressing the concept of systematic therapies. Explaining potentials for integration, the author suggests that considering offenders’ beliefs about themselves and others while offering programs that allow for the analysis of specific individual factors influencing each sexual offender are important focuses of offender intervention and treatment. After describing the case histories of two sexual offenders as an example, the author details the consultation sessions held for facilitators of a community treatment group for sexual offenders. Addressing reoccurring themes from these treatment groups such as process versus content, gender, participants as victims, individuals out of context, and dealing with failure, the author contends that there are limitations in current cognitive behavioral interventions and suggests that systematic therapies are a more influential and effective sexual offender treatment approach. The author contends that adopting a systematic approach and integrating it with the best of the cognitive therapy models is likely to enhance all sexual offender treatment programs. References