Becoming a success story: how boys who have molested children talk about treatment

Abstract

This grounded theory study was designed to generate a mid-range theory of treatment from the perspective of boys who have molested children and undergone outpatient treatment. Data included information from seven boys' charts, their written responses to open-ended questions, and audio-taped interviews. The interviews generated a series of statements reflecting the boys' experiences in treatment, which were analysed by the constant comparative method. The basic social process of treatment was 'becoming a success story'. The structural elements of becoming a success story included relapse prevention, compliance and decision-making. The boys integrated these structural elements by talking to people they trusted, listening to what people said, and using what people said to help them do what was right. Becoming a success story took place in a context of family and community support. In its current form, this theory of treatment success can be used in practice to monitor progress through treatment.

Experiences of engaging in psychotherapeutic interventions for sexual offending behaviours: A meta-synthesis

“…Only studies with adult (over 18 years) participants were included. Three studies were excluded on this basis (Geary, Lambie, & Seymour, 2011;Lawson, 2003;Somervell & Lambie, 2009). Although adolescents comprise a significant proportion of individuals convicted or charged with sexual offences, psychotherapeutic interventions for these individuals differ significantly from interventions for adults (Rich, 2009).…”

Child Sexual Abusers’ Views on Treatment: A Study of Convicted and Imprisoned Adult Male Offenders

“…Some commentators note that this may be due in part to the difficulties encountered by therapists in developing and sustaining "empathic relationships" with these clients due to the nature of their offending (Day, 1999, p. 94;Mitchell & Melikian, 1995), a phenomenon that is further exacerbated by sexual offenders' tendency toward isolation and their inability to form relationships with adults (Erooga, 1994). Moreover, where research has been undertaken, sample sizes are small and relate to outpatient or specialist institutional treatment settings (Day, 1999;Drapeau, Korner, & Brunet, 2004;Hamilton, 1998;Lawson, 2003;Pribyl, 1998;Thomson, 1993).…”

Intrafamilial Adolescent Sex Offenders' Response to Psychological Treatment

“…Although there are an increasing number of studies focussed on the outcomes of treatment programs, there are only a handful of studies which address adolescent offenders' or their parents' perceptions of treatment (Hackett & Masson, 2006;Lawson, 2003). However, participants' perceptions of the impact of treatment programs are an important source of information about the benefits and responsiveness of adolescents to specific aspects of treatment.…”