Therapists’ Personal Experiences in Their Work with Clients Who Have Sexually Offended against Children: A Phenomenological Study

Bach, Maria Hardeberg; Demuth, Carolin

doi:10.1080/10538712.2019.1592273

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Studies examining the experiences of therapists working with criminals have revealed that the therapist's encounter with the patient's criminal history, feelings, and behaviors related to crime can lead to deep emotional and cognitive conflicts in the therapeutic process. These studies reported a variety of countertransference responses that may hinder the therapeutic process [27,28]. According to Lacanian psychoanalytic theory, on the other hand, there is no concept called countertransference.…”

Section: Practical Application: Treatment Planmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychodynamic Short-Term Therapy for Criminal Behaviors

Aktaş,

Çelik,

Çakır

2023

Criminal Behavior - The Underlyings, and Contemporary Applications

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The psychodynamic therapy technique is used in addressing a variety of mental health concerns, including behaviors that are considered criminal. In the present chapter, the implementation of psychodynamic short-term therapy (PSTT) for people who engage in criminal behavior will be examined. PSTT can be conceptualized as a brief therapy that helps individuals to gain awareness of unconscious factors that play a role in shaping their behaviors. It is based on the idea that criminal behaviors are associated with the trauma and unresolved conflicts from the past experiences repressed into the unconscious. This therapy technique, which leads to the discovery of these unconscious factors, provides tools for individuals to better understand and change their behavior. In this chapter, the theoretical basis of psychodynamic therapy, including its key concepts such as the unconscious, transference, and defense mechanisms will be explored. Then, specific approaches and strategies such as identification of maladaptive coping mechanisms and the impact of trauma on individuals’ criminal behavior will be discussed with case examples from the literature. At the end, the empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of psychodynamic short-term therapy for criminal behavior and its limitations will be examined. The findings of the literature and recommendations will be offered to expedite forthcoming research in this domain.

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Section: Practical Application: Treatment Planmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychodynamic Short-Term Therapy for Criminal Behaviors

Aktaş,

Çelik,

Çakır

2023

Criminal Behavior - The Underlyings, and Contemporary Applications

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“…The importance of not taking on responsibility for the recidivism, and of analyzing the circumstances and causes of the recidivism, were emphasized. Hardeberg Bach and Demuth (2019) , in turn, conducted semi-structured interviews with four therapists in order to evaluate the impact of working with individuals who have committed sexual offenses, and collected data on their reactions to recidivism by patients in treatment. One therapist reported that they felt intensely responsible for a client’s reoffending and wondered about what they could have done differently to prevent it from happening.…”

Section: Studies Of the Impact Of The Sexual Recidivism Of A Patient ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While relevant, the two studies mentioned above are not without their limitations. Hardeberg Bach and Demuth’s (2019) study is based on only four participants, which severely limits generalizability. In turn, Ellerby et al’s (1993) study focused on therapists’ emotions and did not examine the cognitions or intervention strategies they adopted when the recidivist was seen again.…”

Section: Studies Of the Impact Of The Sexual Recidivism Of A Patient ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therapists’ cognitive and emotional reactions, as well as intervention strategies upon seeing a reoffending patient, were analyzed in terms of the therapist’s gender, years of experience with this clientele, and the way in which they learned of their patient’s recidivism. Since previous studies were based on small samples and were mainly qualitative in nature (e.g., Hardeberg Bach & Demuth, 2019 ), we chose to carry out a broader quantitative study based on a larger sample that was representative of the population of therapists involved in the treatment of individuals who have committed sexual offenses in the province of Quebec (Canada). In the following section, we report how we determined our sample size, all data exclusions (if any), all manipulations, and all measures in the study.…”

Section: Aim Of the Current Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sexual Recidivism During Treatment: Impact on Therapists

et al. 2023

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There are few studies of therapists’ reactions to working with individuals who have committed sexual offenses, and almost none on reactions following sexual recidivism by a patient who is currently in treatment. Consequently, the aim of the current study was to analyze the cognitive and emotional reactions, as well as the intervention strategies, of therapists who have learned of the sexual recidivism of a patient. A total of 59 participants from the province of Quebec (Canada) completed a questionnaire on their reactions to this event. Participants’ responses to their patient’s recidivism varied as a function of gender, experience, and the way they learned of the recidivism. The most common cognitions reported were thinking of the victim and thinking about the consequences of further judicialization for the patient and those close to them. The most common emotions reported were sadness for the victim and fear that the patient would reoffend again. The most common intervention strategies were being sensitive to the experience of the patient and asking the patient what drove them to offend. Support measures for therapists working with individuals who have committed sexual offenses during treatment are discussed.

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“…Because these therapists were found to be fearful of alienation on the part of their families and colleagues, they were unable to share their work (Clarke & Roger, 2002), and get support from them (Dean & Barnett, 2011). Moreover, a recent study based on interviews with four therapists working with sex offenders found that they feel targeted by people’s hatred toward sex offenders, as one of them stated “the toughest part of my job is to be a therapist for someone who’s hated by so many people” (Hardeberg Bach & Demuth, 2019, p. 803).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treating Sex Offenders: Effects on Male and Female Therapists

Shrim

Baum

2020

J Interpers Violence

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The aim of the present study, based on in-depth semistructured interviews conducted in Israel with 18 social workers (nine women and nine men), working as probation officers who diagnose and treat sex offenders, was twofold: The first goal was to examine how treating sex offenders affects the male and female practitioners’ daily lives and specifically, their parenting. Second, in light of the claim that support of colleagues and family members is very important for coping with secondary traumatization, the study investigated how working with sex offenders influenced the practitioners’ ability to share their experiences with their colleagues in the workplace and with their partners at home. The study findings, based on a phenomenological analysis, revealed that male and female probation officers working with sex offenders experienced anxiety, suspicion, and concern for their children’s safety. Their spousal and collegial relationships were also affected by their work. In addition to not receiving support from their colleagues and partners, they experienced loneliness and attacks “from the inside and from the outside,” expressed in criticism, loathing, and disgust in relation to their work. The findings reveal, for the first time, the common and the distinct effects of male and female practitioners’ experiences on their spousal and parental relationships. It also expands the understanding of the connection between exclusion and loneliness experienced by them, due to their limited ability of sharing their experience with colleagues and family members. The discussion offers theoretical explanations for these implications and recommends how to provide relief for male and female practitioners, who work with sex offenders.

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Therapists’ Personal Experiences in Their Work with Clients Who Have Sexually Offended against Children: A Phenomenological Study

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

Psychodynamic Short-Term Therapy for Criminal Behaviors

Psychodynamic Short-Term Therapy for Criminal Behaviors

Sexual Recidivism During Treatment: Impact on Therapists

Treating Sex Offenders: Effects on Male and Female Therapists

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