Who Cares? The Views of Sexual Offenders About the Group Treatment They Receive

Abstract

This paper describes one of the first systematic focused attempts to elicit the views of sexual offenders about the treatment that they have received. The paucity of previous research in this area is suggested to be the result of negative societal attitudes towards sexual offenders, as exemplified by recent tabloid newspaper coverage of this population. It is suggested that these attitudes may have a negative impact upon the attitudes of clinicians and researchers, and thus upon the treatment offered to this client group. Therefore, it is argued that seeking the views of the clients is essential in order to ensure that treatment is relevant and reflexive, and promotes relapse prevention. A questionnaire was distributed to participants who had completed treatment groups run by the Psychology Service at a Regional Secure Unit and at a Probation Service Sexual Offender Unit. The questionnaire aimed to elicit their views of the group experience, including issues to do with programme structure and content, group process, and therapeutic style of group facilitators. The results (including a pilot study) indicated that, on the whole, participants' experiences of the group were positive, for example aspects of the group process, understanding and preventing reoffending. Some suggestions for the modification and development of future sexual offender treatment are outlined, based on the feedback from subjects, for example, consideration of alternative treatment modalities, enhancing the content of group sessions, improving the organization of groups and modifying the training of groups leaders.

Sexual offenders’ treatment experience: a qualitative and quantitative investigation

“…Scheela, 2001), limited work has been conducted into sexual offenders' experiences of treatment. Garrett et al (2003) have recently examined sexual offenders' views about treatment. The findings suggest that sexual offenders in general have a positive experience of treatment, particularly group process.…”

Adolescent Sex Offenders' Rankings of Therapeutic Factors Using the Yalom Card Sort

“…An accumulating body of research points to the importance of considering and assessing the role and interaction between process and patient variables, yet the majority of investigations include clinical perceptions and neglect to include the perceptions of the client. This is problematic as research indicates that therapists' perceptions of what is helpful within treatment can be unreliable, discrepant from those of the clients, and have a poor association with outcome (Garrett, Oliver, Wilcox, & Middleton, 2003;Yalom, 1995;Yalom & Elkin, 1974;Yalom & Leszcz, 2005). Orlinsky, Grawe, and Parks (1994) found that patient experience and construction of personal meaning of the events in therapy were significantly associated with outcome in 51% of 39 studies examined.…”

“…It is the case that clients can provide vital information regarding the events or aspects of therapy that promote positive outcome. Although research that focuses on client perceptions is accumulating (Calsyn, Winter, & Morse, 2000;Chase & Kelly, 1993;Clarkin & Levy, 2004;Day, 1999;Everall & Paulson, 2002;Garrett et al, 2003;Langevin, Wright, & Handy, 1988;Orlinsky, Rønnestad, & Willutzki, 2004;Paulson, Everall, & Stuart, 2001;Reddon, Payne, & Starzyk, 1999;Tallman & Bohart, 1999;Yalom, 1995;Yalom & Leszcz, 2005), investigations which focus on adolescent sex offenders have not been undertaken.…”

Sex Offender Treatment

“…Researchers in England interviewed clients about their perceptions of outpatient therapy (Garrett, Oliver, Wilcox, & Middleton, 2003). Most (97%) rated their experience in group therapy as positive.…”