The role of affect regulation in the treatment of people who have committed sexual offenses

Gunst, Ellen; Watson, Jeanne C.; Willemsen, Jochem; Desmet, Mattias

doi:10.1016/j.avb.2018.10.008

Cited by 9 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…Consistent with a current trend in forensic literature, this study focused on the possibility to engage ISOs affectively in therapy and facilitate emotional change. According to the experiential approach, the crucial client task in offender therapy involves becoming able to process emotionally toned experiences in more effective ways and to attend to inner experience to acknowledge and fulfill needs in more adaptive ways (Elliott et al, 2004; Gunst, Watson, Willemsen, & Desmet, 2019). It was anticipated that there would be a stronger change in AR, psychological symptoms, and distress in Phase C with the addition of EFT, which was not confirmed by the quantitative analysis.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Multiple single cases can contribute to the understanding of significant events and mechanisms of change. RCT's could compare treatment as usual (CBT for ISOs) to integrative forensic treatments with a more experiential approach or specific AR training (Gunst et al, 2018). (μg/dl) during the waiting phase A, throughout the first treatment phase B and the second treatment phase C, and during follow-up phase A.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Into the Wild, Out of the Woods: A Systematic Case Study on Facilitating Emotional Change

Gunst

Willemsen

Desmet

et al. 2019

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol

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Cognitive and behavioral treatment programs for individuals who have committed sexual offenses (ISOs) have shown significant but small effect sizes. A growing body of research points toward the importance of difficulties in affect regulation (AR) as a risk factor for sexual recidivism. On this basis, it seems important to target difficulties in AR in treatment. The current systematic case study investigates the potential contribution of emotion-focused therapy (EFT) to changing problematic AR in ISOs. Kevin was a high-risk offender with a traumatic history who met the diagnostic criteria of pedophilic and borderline disorders, with serious AR difficulties. Self-report outcome measures, observation measures, and a biomarker were used to track changes in AR, psychological symptoms, and distress during baseline (Phase A); treatment as usual (Phase B); treatment with an EFT component added (Phase C); and follow-up (Phase A). Statistically significant change was found in AR, psychological symptoms, and distress during treatment (Phase B + C); however, it is not possible to attribute these changes causally to EFT. An examination of the qualitative process data provides deeper insights into how the client reacted to specific EFT interventions. Verbatim clinical vignettes are included to clarify key interventions, hindrances, and mechanisms of change. This study provides preliminary support for the role of therapy to facilitate emotional change in ISOs.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Into the Wild, Out of the Woods: A Systematic Case Study on Facilitating Emotional Change

Gunst

Willemsen

Desmet

et al. 2019

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol

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“…On the other hand, it is also a dynamic process by which the offense is integrated into the patient's life narrative in an attempt to move beyond it. If the offense is not worked through, the risk of reoffending will remain (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16) and the patient offender may see his offense as an absolute, identity-defining act, from which there is no conceptual or moral escape. Therefore, in order to develop an understanding of the dynamics of offending, the events, circumstances, and behaviors that occurred before, during and after the offense should be analyzed (14).…”

Section: Index Offensementioning

confidence: 99%

Offense-Related Issues in Forensic Psychiatric Treatment: A Thematic Analysis

2020

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Characteristics unique to forensic psychiatric treatment include coming to terms with the offenses committed, the long duration of treatment and the assessment of the risk of repeat offending. This study describes the views of both patients and staff on the significance of the patient's offense as a part of forensic psychiatric rehabilitation. Eight forensic psychiatric patients and eight forensic psychiatric nurses from two forensic psychiatric hospitals in Finland participated in this study. Data were gathered by means of thematic interview and analyzed by means of thematic analysis. The findings suggest that patients and professionals alike concur that ascertaining the factors with a bearing on the offense, and working through the offense and the factors leading up to it, constitute an essential aspect of forensic treatment. This, in turn, has a bearing on the planning and administration of a treatment plan consisting of both medical and psychosocial support and interventions intended to enable patients to live independent, fulfilling lives, thus reducing the likelihood of reoffending. The findings of this study can be used as part of the development of international, standardized treatment models for clinical forensic psychiatric practices.

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“…Making contact with emotions in combination with experiential reflection is associated with good outcomes in different therapeutic approaches (Cain, ), so it is important to examine if and how emotional change can occur in the treatment of ISOs. As Emotion‐Focused Therapy (EFT) has been shown to be effective in addressing the underlying and dysfunctional processes for many psychological problems and disorders (Elliott, Greenberg, Watson, Timulak, & Freire, ), it is important to explore its application to ISOs (Gunst, Watson, Willemsen, & Desmet, ). Sexual offending is a complex problem requiring comprehensive treatment to reduce recidivism.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other treatment tasks that were used included two-chair-dialogues to change a person's negative treatment of self and empty-chair-dialogue for attachment injuries with significant others (Elliott, Watson, Goldman, & Greenberg, 2004). EFT group therapy is based on the principles of individual EFT and explores the intrapsychic and interpersonal problems of the participants (Gunst et al, 2018). The group took place twice a week.…”

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confidence: 99%

A quest for self‐soothing: A systematic case study into emotion‐focused therapy with an emotionally avoidant client who committed sexual offenses

et al. 2019

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Objective The current study is part of a multiple case study that investigated the emotional change in individuals who have committed sexual offenses (ISOs). This case study highlights how one client used sex as a maladaptive coping strategy to suppress negative emotions. Method A mixed‐methods design was used to track changes in the client's affect regulation (AR) during four phases, including a baseline (Phase A), treatment as usual (Phase B), treatment with an emotion‐focused therapy (EFT) component added (Phase C), and follow up (Phase A). Results The qualitative description with verbatim clinical vignettes, revealed deeper insight into some important steps and hindrances and the impact of specific EFT‐interventions. Quantitative analysis of self‐report and observational measures showed a significant improvement in the client's AR across different phases of treatment. Conclusions The study improves our knowledge of the emotional change in ISOs during treatment and illustrates some key interventions, steps, and hindrances.

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The role of affect regulation in the treatment of people who have committed sexual offenses

Abstract: The role of affect regulation in the treatment of people who have committed sexual offences. Avb (2018),

Cited by 9 publications

References 93 publications

Into the Wild, Out of the Woods: A Systematic Case Study on Facilitating Emotional Change

Into the Wild, Out of the Woods: A Systematic Case Study on Facilitating Emotional Change

Offense-Related Issues in Forensic Psychiatric Treatment: A Thematic Analysis

A quest for self‐soothing: A systematic case study into emotion‐focused therapy with an emotionally avoidant client who committed sexual offenses

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