No Easy Answers: Ethical Challenges Working with Sex Offenders

Abstract

Therapeutic practice with sex offenders and similarly ostracized populations presents unique personal, clinical, and professional challenges for clinicians. This article examines four areas of difficulty-treatment efficacy, clinical competence, boundary maintenance, and stigmatizing policies-and reviews ethical and clinical standards for addressing these challenges. Specific recommendations for competent practice, supervision, research, and advocacy are given.

The Countertransference Experiences of Pregnant Counselors Working With Sex Offenders

“…For participants in the present study, these feelings appeared amplified. Setting clear boundaries is an ingrained method for sex offender counselors to protect themselves and their clients (Grady & Strom‐Gottfried, ), and this strategy is severely hindered as the counselor's pregnancy begins to show.…”

“…Despite the rewards of sex offender counseling (Dreier & Wright, ; Kadambi & Truscott, ), it is a specialty that brings a particular set of challenges for the counselor. First, this specialty is often negatively perceived by others (Grady & Strom‐Gottfried, ; Polson & McCullom, ; Scheela, ; Van Deusen & Way, ), making it difficult for sex offender counselors to feel supported. Second, sex offender counselors may face contradictions between their preferred worldview and what they learn in their therapeutic work (Hatcher & Noakes, ).…”

“…Second, sex offender counselors may face contradictions between their preferred worldview and what they learn in their therapeutic work (Hatcher & Noakes, ). “Every case a clinician encounters when working with sex offenders involves sexual trauma” (Grady & Strom‐Gottfried, , p. 20), and extensive exposure to trauma can take its toll. Sex offender counselors may experience intrusive images of abuse (Briggs & Kennington, ), worry about clients reoffending (Polson & McCullom, ; Scheela, ), frustration with both clients and the correctional system (Farrenkopf, ), and countertransference (CT) issues (Scheela, ).…”

“…The importance and challenge of controlling CT issues may be greater in sex offender work than in other counseling specialties (Grady & Strom-Gottfried, 2011;Polson & McCullom, 1995). Researchers have argued that sex offenders are particularly skilled in discovering and exploiting the vulnerabilities of others (Grady & Strom-Gottfried, 2011;Scheela, 2001), and their counselors may be uncertain whether feelings of victimization are intentionally provoked by a client manipulation or the result of unresolved personal issues (Briggs & Kennington, 2006). In addition to supervision and support from colleagues (Hatcher & Noakes, 2010), sex offender counselors cope by maintaining clear personal and professional boundaries (Scheela, 2001).…”

“…In addition to supervision and support from colleagues (Hatcher & Noakes, 2010), sex offender counselors cope by maintaining clear personal and professional boundaries (Scheela, 2001). Keeping the two areas as separate as possible protects the counselor and the client (Grady & Strom-Gottfried, 2011). However, some of the counselors may encounter circumstances, such as pregnancy, that prevent complete separation.…”