Treatment of incest perpetrators: a five-phase model

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Family Therapy

Background:

• Incestuous fathers often require specialized therapeutic interventions.
• Understanding the precursors and familial context of incest is crucial for effective treatment.
• Recidivism is a significant concern in treating individuals who have committed sexual abuse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a structured, multi-phase therapeutic approach for fathers who have committed incest.
• To outline the key components of a treatment program aimed at preventing relapse.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the described therapeutic model.

Main Methods:

• A five-phase treatment protocol including crisis intervention, assessment, and analysis of pre-contact behaviors.
• Phases focusing on client accountability, exploration of abuse origins within personal and familial contexts.
• Integration of partner-relationship and family counseling sessions alongside individual therapy.

Main Results:

• The treatment program successfully guided clients through phases of accountability and contextual understanding.
• Relapse prevention strategies were implemented in the final phase of therapy.
• No clients participating in the program have recidivized to date.

Conclusions:

• The described five-phase therapy, including conjoint and family sessions, appears effective in treating fathers who committed incest.
• The structured approach, emphasizing accountability and contextualization, contributes to successful rehabilitation.
• The absence of recidivism suggests the potential efficacy of this therapeutic model in preventing future offenses.