Six groupwork interventions with adolescent sexual abusers

Abstract

Whilst the development of theory, research and practise with adult sex offenders has achieved some degree of sophistication, the field is far less developed in relation to the management and treatment of adolescents who sexually offend. In particular there is only a limited supply of literature describing detailed clinical work, the exceptions being Ryan & Lane (1991), O'Callaghan & Print (1994) and Smets & Cebula (1987). This article makes a contribution to the practise literature by describing and analysing a number of key group treatment interventions which have been developed over three years work with this client population. The article proposes that successful group interventions have to work on two levels, firstly they must seek to change behaviours, cognitions and affect related to offending; and secondly, and in our view of equal importance, the interventions must make use of and enhance the curative factors thought to be relevant to effective group treatment.

The interventions described in this paper relate to five core treatment goals: enhancing responsibility, restructuring distorted cognitions, developing empathy, controlling deviant fantasy and relapse prevention. Each intervention is analysed with respect to its aims, its delivery, its potential benefits and pitfalls, both in terms of individual and group processes.

Whilst the bulk of the article focuses on therapeutic group processes, it concludes by summarising some of the external dynamics that affect the efficacy of this form of group treatment.