A Sex Offender Therapist's Story

Abstract

A therapist who works with sex offenders explains how she got involved in this work, what the treatment program entails, and the difficult homework the offenders must complete to graduate. She also describes the remodeling process offenders experience as they progress through treatment. Most of the offenders she has worked with are remorseful, have been victims themselves, work very hard in treatment, and make remarkable changes to become safe, productive members of society. That is why she has found this work to be some of the most challenging and rewarding work of her life.

Psychological therapy in prisons: Professionals’ perceptions

“…It is plausible that participants' humanistic values may have been such that they were protective against the possible negative consequences of working with criminal narratives (as found previously, Kurtz & Turner, 2007;Marzano et al, 2013;Moore et al, 2011;Scheela, 2001Scheela, , 2008. Many of the participants believed that a personcentred approach was vital to working with this client group and some even used "Carl Rogers" as a symbol of empathy, transparency, and unconditional positive regard, which are said to be curative (Rogers, 1951(Rogers, , 1961(Rogers, , 2007.…”

“…Converging with accounts found in the literature, participants also constructed a dual experience that is both rewarding and challenging (Bertrand-Godfrey & Loewenthal, 2011;Ellerby, 1998;Scheela, 2001Scheela, , 2008Slater & Lambie, 2011;Farrant, 2012;Kadambi & Truscott, 2006). This duality can be attributed to perceived achievement and growth inherent in this type of therapeutic work (Ellerby, 1998;Farrant, 2012).…”

“…Continual engagement with clients diagnosed with DPSD or personality disorders, a high prevalence of deliberate self-harm, and hearing narratives of crime can have damaging effects on the practitioner (Kurtz & Turner, 2007;Marzano et al, 2013;Moore, Andargachew, & Taylor, 2011;Scheela, 2001Scheela, , 2008. Professionals exhibit lower job satisfaction (Boothby & Clements, 2002) and experience burnout (Coffey & Coleman, 2001;Ellerby, 1998;Marzano et al, 2013;Senter, Morgan, Serna- (Ennis & Horne, 2003;Steed & Bicknell, 2001).…”

“…Although the majority of research highlights the challenging nature of this work, professionals also perceive it to be highly rewarding (Bertrand-Godfrey & Loewenthal, 2011;Ellerby, 1998;Farrant, 2012;Kadambi & Truscott, 2006;Scheela, 2001Scheela, , 2008Slater & Lambie, 2011). Having support from management and colleagues as well as a therapeutic atmosphere contributes towards a sense of safety, wellbeing, and satisfaction (Boothby & Clements, 2002;Brookes, 2010;Ellerby, 1998;Ennis & Horne, 2003;Deane & Barnett, 2011;Dickinson & Wright, 2008;Kadambi & Truscott, 2006;Rask & Levander, 2002;Slater & Lambie, 2011).…”

Dislikable Clients or Countertransference: A Clinician's Perspective

“…Recent studies have also shown that clinical interventions have a positive effect in diminishing distressing symptoms in clients (Minami et al, 2008; Shedler, 2010). While there are many theoretical orientations and types of clinical interventions, clinicians agree that the chief goals of these interventions are to enhance coping mechanisms and symptom management in their clients (Bergin & Garfield, 1994; Laskowski, 2001; Scheela, 2008). In fact, Flückiger and colleagues (2012) found that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is a key factor in positive treatment outcomes for clients.…”