Research on the processes involved in treating sexual offenders

This article summarizes preliminary findings from a series of pilot studies on the processes involved in treating sexual offenders. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used on samples of 15 to 24 child molesters undergoing a prison-based cognitive-behavioral and relapse prevention treatment program. Results are presented and discussed in the form of 5 questions: (1) Are therapists just "technicians"? The offenders' point of view (2) Does confronting the therapist mean treatment resistance? (3) Are the therapists perceived as therapists, parents, or a bit of both? (4) Is the structure of the program important? The offenders' point of view and (5) Is a sense of mastery important in a prison setting? It is suggested that researchers investigate the processes underlying the treatment of offenders, especially the common factors which have been shown to have an effect on therapeutic outcome.