A group treatment program for adolescent sex offenders: five steps toward resolution

This article describes a five-step group therapy program for adolescent sex offenders. The key elements of this approach are peer interaction and a system of incentives to move on in therapy, both of which are believed to be crucial in treating adolescents most effectively. While progressing through the steps, the participants acknowledge their adjudication, detail their offenses and personal sexual development, enhance their insights into their behavior and sexuality at large and plan how to avoid offending again. This paper describes the program of a rural outpatient guidance clinic in which a male-female therapist team met with several groups of boys (21 boys). The group program is part of a total treatment approach which also includes assessment, individual and family therapy.