On the Lived Experience of Sex Offenders’ Therapists: Their Perceptions of Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Consequences and Patterns of Coping

Abstract

In the last two decades, there has been a growing understanding that the therapeutic encounter with sex offenders takes a cost and has consequences on therapists. Despite the increasing research on the consequences of treating sex offenders, these studies in fact, have merely described the consequences, without providing an outlook for how therapists cope with them. The study presented in this article was part of a larger qualitative research project conducted among social workers, using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Emphasis is placed on therapists' perceptions of the intrapersonal and interpersonal consequences they experience from treating sex offenders, as well as the strategies they use to cope with these consequences. The study's central findings concern the therapists' perception of the intrapersonal consequences, which included two levels: primary responses and cumulative responses, and their perception of the interpersonal consequences that included their parenting relationships, intimate relationships, their attitude toward others (strangers and acquaintances), loss of their quality of life, and further positive consequences. The findings indicated a sequence and integrated use of the strategies to cope with the consequences. The results are discussed in light of the theoretical framework of Lazarus and Folkman's stress and coping theory. The limitations of the study as well as its implications for future research are discussed.

Therapists’ experiences in their work with sex offenders and people with pedophilia: A literature review

“…Several authors have, however, reported either low levels of stress and/or a variety of positive experiences among sex offender therapists ( Carmel & Friedlander, 2009 ; Elias & Haj-Yahia, 2016 ; Ennis & Horne, 2003 ; Hatcher & Noakes, 2010 ; Moore, 2016 ; Scheela, 2001 ; Shelby, Stoddart, & Taylor, 2001 ). In example, Carmel and Friedlander (2009) obtained low mean scores on stress-related measures, yet high levels of compassion satisfaction, indicating that the 106 therapists, who returned their questionnaire, generally enjoy their work.…”

“…Studies using qualitative methodologies did, however, provide insight into this. Elias and Haj-Yahia (2016) , who argued that existing research has merely sought to describe the consequences of work with sex offender, while neglecting how therapists perceive and cope with them, made the latter the aim of their research. According to one participant, negative impact was perceived to be a consequence of being confronted with their clients’ offences: “The emotions I carry with me are difficult.…”

“…Therapists’ conceptions about this client group may well influence how work with them is experienced. While numerous studies have focused on therapists’ attitudes towards this population ( Adams & Betz, 1993 ; Elias & Haj-Yahia, 2016 ; Engle, McFalls, & Gallagher, 2007 ; Gore-Felton, Arnow, Koopman, Thoresen, & Spiegel, 1999 ; Fortney, Baker, & Levenson; 2009 ; Fuselier, Durham, & Wurtele, 2002 ; Harnett, 1997 ; Jahnke et al, 2015 ; Mellor & Deering, 2010 ; Reidy & Hochstadt, 1993 ), only one study focused directly on attitudes in relation to experience. Elias and Haj-Yahia (2016) , who conducted an interview-study that was analyzed via grounded theory, illustrated that therapists’ perceptions about sex offenders personally affected them in their work.…”

“…Additionally, to our knowledge, research to date has been conducted exclusively on English-speaking therapists, with the exception on one study ( Elias & Haj-Yahia, 2016 ). This is problematic as our conceptualizations about intergenerational sex are temporally and socially situated, which, in turn, will affect how therapists experience the process of working therapeutically with these clients, as well as what impacts we may expect hereof.…”

“…Nevertheless, no cut-off scores were provided, making it difficult to evaluate the results on a group-level. Elias & Haj-Yahia (2016) Exploring the responses to work with sex offenders among 19 therapists (Origin: Israel). Qualitative: Interviews analyzed via grounded theory.…”