Counseling Adult Sex Offenders: Unique Challenges and Treatment Paradigms

Abstract

Current definitions and research literature related to characteristics of adults who sexually victimize children are reviewed. Treatment issues that may confront counselors engaged in treating adults who sexually victimize children are examined, and implications for practitioners are discussed.

Hypnotic Psychotherapy With Sex Offenders

“…This connection is generally absent prior to treatment (Auburn & Lea, 2003;Launay, 2001;Priest & Smith, 1992).…”

“…Pedophilia is an attraction or strong sexual preference for children and sexual activities that focus on prepubescent children. The sexual activities can be fantasy or actual events (Miranda & Fiorello, 2002;Moorhead, 2001;Priest & Smith, 1992). Sexual masochism refers to receiving humiliation or suffering.…”

“…Research literature (Cashwell & Caruso, 1997;Miranda & Fiorello, 2002;Priest & Smith, 1992) regarding sex offenders reports that the causes of sexual disorders are difficult to ascertain. The DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000) states that behaviors linked with paraphilias may begin in childhood or early adolescence and is delineated by early adulthood.…”

“…As previously noted, the majority of offenders are male; however, females also offend. Additionally, many offenders have been sexually or physically abused or have witnessed atypical sexual behaviors at an early age (Aylwin, Studer, Reddon, & Clelland, 2003;Cashwell & Caruso, 1997;Priest & Smith, 1992). According to McMackin et al (2002), adolescent sex offenders often live with family chaos and dissonance and may have experienced or observed the death or significant harm of another, such as in gang violence.…”

Personnalité et distorsions cognitives des agresseurs sexuels

“…La psychothérapie en groupe se déroule selon quatre phases successives liées à des cibles d'intervention distinctes : 1) orientation (p. ex., reconnaissance de sa responsabilité et du besoin de traitement) ; 2) sensibilisation voilée (basée sur une technique cognitive-comportementale de type aversif ayant pour but d'associer des stimuli aversifs aux fantaisies déviantes afin de diminuer l'excitation sexuelle associée et d'augmenter le contrôle cognitif des pensées et fantaisies déviantes via la mise à jour des distorsions cognitives ; Abel et Rouleau, 1990 ;Marshall et Barbaree, 1988 ;Priest et Smith, 1992) ; 3) prévention de la récidive (p. ex., détermination des aspects de la motivation ayant favorisé l'agir ou l'excitation sexuelle déviante, des besoins sexuels, affectifs, de contrôle et de pouvoir, ainsi que des difficultés à régler adéquatement les conflits ; reconnaissance des signes précurseurs d'une agression et élaboration d'un plan de prévention de la récidive) ; et 4) communication (p.…”