Predicting Psychological Distress in Sex Offender Therapists

Abstract

The provision of psychological services to sexual offenders presents therapists with many challenges, including exposure to vivid descriptions of sexual violence and trauma. Although there is an increasingly robust body of literature investigating the effects of such traumatic exposure on therapists who work with the victims of sexual abuse, there have been few studies of its impact on those who treat the perpetrators. This study provides an exploratory investigation of the experience of psychological distress among therapists who work with sex offenders, as well as the social support mechanisms that may serve to mitigate therapist risk. Fifty-nine sex offender therapists completed a self-report measure of posttraumatic stress symptomatology, and rated their perceptions of family and peer support. therapists also reported the number of hours that they devote to sex offender treatment and the amount of clinical supervision they participate in on a weekly basis. As a group, participants reported experiencing low levels of general and trauma-related distress. Although statistical analyses failed to indicate the existence of a significant positive correlation between number of hours devoted to sex offender treatment and the experience of therapist distress, greater perceptions of peer support were significantly predictive of lower levels of psychological distress and PTSD symptoms. These results are discussed relative to their implications for sex offender therapist self-care and future research.

Working with sex offenders: the impact on Australian treatment providers

“…Within the field of sex offender treatment, treatment providers are often exposed to graphic details of the offences committed by their clients. In the attempt to lessen the risk of further offending, treatment providers listen to and process the sexual content of offenders' behaviour and fantasies (Bengis, measurements of vicarious trauma report only mild (Ennis & Horne, 2003; to moderate (Kadambi & Truscott, 2003;Way, VanDeusen, Martin, Applegate, & Jandle, 2004) levels of vicarious trauma. Little information exists in relation to the factors that mediate vicarious trauma, although there is some evidence that access to supervision or peers is important (Ennis & Horne, 2003;Kadambi & Truscott, 2003).…”

“…Whilst the primary victims of traumatic events are those with first-hand experience of the event itself, it is now being recognized that those indirectly exposed may also be affected (Ennis & Horne, 2003). Within the field of sex offender treatment, treatment providers are often exposed to graphic details of the offences committed by their clients.…”

No Easy Answers: Ethical Challenges Working with Sex Offenders

“…With a limited number of qualified supervisors, the paucity of supportive colleagues willing to offer a listening ear, and the stigma attached to the work itself, it is small wonder that some social workers experience professional isolation (Pais 2001;Van Deusen and Way 2006). The implications of such isolation, coupled with exposure to traumatic material, have been well documented, including callousness, suspicion, hypervigilance, and vulnerability (Ennis and Horne 2003;McCann and Pearlman 1990;Pais 2001;Thorpe et al 2001). Not surprisingly, the quality of some clinicians' work has been shown to suffer as a result of these negative effects.…”

“…Studies have shown that when clinicians who work with sex offenders are involved in professional peer support, which includes supervision, there is a reduction in their measured levels of distress (Ennis and Horne 2003;Pais 2001). Yet, for many social workers who work with offenders, it is a challenge to find a colleague who also works with sex offenders, who is in the same geographic area, and who would constitute an appropriate consultant.…”

“…Yet, for many social workers who work with offenders, it is a challenge to find a colleague who also works with sex offenders, who is in the same geographic area, and who would constitute an appropriate consultant. Given this limited pool of colleagues, professionals who work with offenders may use e-mail lists to stay connected to other professionals working with sex offenders (Ennis and Horne 2003). However, it is unclear whether this mechanism appropriately safeguards case information, and whether this type of informal, unstructured contact is sufficient to ensure individual growth, professional competence, and personal well-being.…”