The therapeutic alliance: A theoretical revision for offender rehabilitation

Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programs: A Proposal for Evidence-Based Standards in the United States

“…According to Ross, Polaschek, and Ward (2008), therapist and client relationships are strengthened by three factors: (a) agreement on therapy goals, (b) agreement on the task needed to achieve these goals, and (c) agreement on a bond to facilitate this process. This is in contrast to the Duluth model (L. G. Mills, Grauwiler, & Pezold, 2006) which uses a feminist psychoeducational approach to treatment that is a coordinated response by community institutions.…”

A journey beyond the bars: Participants' experiences of psychological treatment in a prison setting

“…According to Ross et al (2008), the various contextual factors within the overall prison matrix play a substantial role in determining positive treatment outcomes. Nevertheless, it appears these factors have been largely overlooked by the research community.…”

“…A number of the programme facilitators interviewed by Clarke et al expressed their frustrations regarding the apparent lack of concern for the programme demonstrated by certain custodial officers who prevented prisoners from attending sessions in a timely manner by failing to release them from their cells as required. Ross et al (2008) discussed the findings of Qunisey, Harris, Rice and Cormier (1998) which maintain that the positive therapeutic work undertaken by both therapist and client during session can be drastically undermined in the wider prison environment by the misguided actions of certain custodial officers. Moreover, Ross et al draw upon the evidence of Dear, Beers, Dastyar, Hall, Kordanovski and Pritchard (2002) and Hobbs and Dear (2000) (ibid) which concludes that prisoners are unlikely to perceive custodial officers as an appropriate basis for support, particularly in regard to emotional difficulties.…”

“…It will examine the prospect of a connection between the wider prison environment, the nature of the relationships established between prison staff and inmates and the development of therapeutic rapport. Ross et al (2008) make the observation that a variety of contextual factors exist within the overall matrix of a prison, each of which has an influence on the successful delivery of treatment. Ross et al suggest that these factors can be subdivided into two distinct domains: correctional system factors and factors in the immediate environment in which therapy is undertaken.…”

“…It is important to note that all of the prisons associated with this research utilise the same policy in regard to an individual"s appointment onto a cognitive-skills programmes, in that the priority wait-listing is biased in favour of those prisoners with the most imminent Parole dates. Ross, Polaschek and Ward (2008) contend that the problem of rehabilitative programmes being scheduled towards the latter part of a person"s sentence is a common one. They note how scheduling interventions in this manner has a negative impact upon the effective collaboration of goals and tasks between client and participant (as part of the therapeutic alliance), and as such, increases the likelihood of treatment dropout.…”