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

Abstract

This meta-synthesis explores individuals' experiences of engaging in psychotherapeutic interventions for sexual offending. The findings of ten qualitative studies were integrated and five overarching concepts emerged: (1) incentives and inhibitions: to engage or not to engage?; (2) help or hindrance: the impact of others in therapy; (3) the abused and the abuser: perspectives for transformation; (4) struggling and striving: dealing with distress and difficulties and (5) what works: inside and outside. A line of argument derived from these concepts is proposed as a framework for understanding sex offenders' experiences of therapy and highlights aspects of treatment programmes that need further exploration or emphasis. Using qualitative accounts can improve the responsiveness of treatment programmes, but such research is currently limited. Future qualitative studies and reviews could help further improve the effectiveness of treatment programmes, and thereby reduce the rate of sexual reoffending.

“Simply Speaking Your Mind, from the Depths of Your Soul”: Therapeutic Factors in Experiential Group Psychotherapy for Sex Offenders

“…This instrument is used to rank therapeutic factors in order of importance. In outpatient groups, the most important therapeutic factors, These findings are in keeping with recent metasynthesis of ten qualitative studies on client's perspectives in sex offender treatment (Walji, Simpson & Weatherhead, 2014). They found that the quality of the therapeutic relationship is a decisive factor in the experience of the clients.…”

“…Based on these results and based on Walji et al (2014), we suggest that group psychotherapists acknowledge that the process of change in sex offenders is not restricted to changing the attitude towards the actual offence or the victim, but involves a broader personal transformation. It seems that the clients go through a process of gradually taking more responsibility for their own therapeutic change.…”

“…The findings of Walji et al (2014) dovetail with studies using the therapeutic factors of Yalom. The importance of the therapeutic relationship, marked by acceptance, respect…”

“…This seems to be the primary condition for effective group treatment, and it facilitates other therapeutic factors such as catharsis and interpersonal learning. According to Walji et al (2014), a crucial aspect of catharsis and interpersonal learning concerns clients' exploration of their own experiences of victimization.…”

Predictive validity of the HCR‐20 for violent and non‐violent sexual behaviour in a secure mental health service

“…It may contribute to the social exclusion of patients and delay their rehabilitation and recovery (Johnson et al, 2006). It is important, therefore, to be able to identify those most at risk so that relevant care and treatment strategies can be best focused (Griffin and Vettor, 2012;Walji et al, 2013). Sexual violence risk assessment instruments are, however, rather infrequently used in inpatient hospital units, where generic violence risk assessments are more commonly used (Khiroya et al, 2009), particularly the HCR-20 (Webster et al, 1997).…”