Group-work for offender patients on sex offending in a high security hospital: Investigating aspects of impact via qualitative analysis

Abstract

Qualitative methods can improve the understanding of the dynamic group processes that occur during interventions with sex offenders and how these might impact upon outcomes. The current study presents themes from post-group interviews with 17 male offender patients referred for group-work on sex offending in a high security hospital. Individual interview transcripts were analysed thematically and five themes were generated: the impact of disclosing offending experiences; essential ingredients of group-work; peer processes; taking on an offender identity; and life after the group. Despite methodological differences between this study and other research, there is clear thematic narrative overlap in findings. This suggests some outcomes in common across interventions for sex offenders, and demonstrates the usefulness of including reflective narratives as a means of gathering information about the impact of group-work for patients with serious offence histories.

Keywords:

• Group processes
• high security hospital
• sexual offending
• mental disorder
• service user perspectives
• treatment experience

Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the participation of those in this study who agreed to comment on their experiences, and to the staff of the Newbury Therapy Unit who offered the groups over a 6-year period and promoted the research exploration of the impact of the intervention.