Treatment of incest perpetrators: a five-phase model

The author's experiences with treating fathers who committed incest and were sentenced to undergo therapy are discussed in this paper. The treatment consists of five phases. Following crisis intervention and assessment, an analysis is made of the sequence of events, thoughts, moods, and behaviors that precede sexual contact. In the third phase, the client's sense of guilt is brought out and he actively takes responsibility for the sexual abuse of his daughter. In the fourth phase, the origin of the sexual abuse is clarified as it is put into the context of his own problems and the problems within the family. In the fifth phase, strategies for relapse prevention are practiced. In addition there are partner-relationship sessions with the couple as well as family counseling sessions. Up to now none of the clients have recidivized.