Search

Grounded in the five factor model of personality, DEEPdown is a new transdiagnostic self-development programme delivered in groups, over seven sessions. This pilot study investigated the general acceptability of DEEPdown and sought to model and process outcomes. Participants were 29 University College Dublin students aged 18-24 (M=21.0; SD=1.65), five of whom were either attending the university counselling service or had a previous psychiatric diagnosis. Data from focus groups and questionnaires were subject to thematic and descriptive analysis. 27 of the 29 participants (94%) completed DEEPdown, satisfaction levels were very high (M=4.5 out of 5; SD=0.51), and in response to u201cI would recommend DEEPdown to friends and/or familyu201d, 50% of participants strongly agreed and 50% agreed. Moreover, participants consistently reported various positive experiences and helpful in-session events. The most strongly emergent outcomes related to greater awareness of oneself and others, greater acceptance of oneself and others, improved compassion to oneself and others, increased self-reflection, and the fostering of motivation to change. Areas for improvement in DEEPdownu2019s content were also identified (e.g. timing concerns). The many positive findings bode well for the programmeu2019s future evaluation and roll-out. Further pilot studies are needed to address content issues.

In this chapter we will consider the assessment and treatment of criminogenic factors in young people who engage in sexually abusive behaviour. Evidence from the theoretical and research literature will be used to highlight the extent of this problem and the significant role played by a coercive style of family interaction in its aetiology. We put forward our view that a useful approach to tackling non-sexual criminal and antisocial behaviour among juvenile sexual offenders is with reference to the "what works" literature concerning young people who present with Conduct Disorder. Consistent with ideas presenting an aetiological role for dysfunctional family interaction in sexual and nonsexual criminal and antisocial behaviour, the what works literature provides an evidence base that points to a continuum of therapeutic response ranging from parental behavioural training, to functional family therapy, multi-systemic therapy, and special foster care placement. We conclude the chapter by illustrating a functional family therapy approach to assessing, formulating, and intervening with a young person whose sexually abusive behaviour is part of more general criminal and antisocial activities with reference to a case example.

This chapter outlines some basic ideas that can be used to plan and conduct a clinical assessment for a young person referred for problems with sexually abusive behaviour. It begins by considering key characteristics that reflect a good approach to clinical assessment with this population. It then considers aspects of motivation that are important in planning such assessments. It will outline the main areas usually covered during a clinical assessment and concludes with ideas on formulating information from the assessment, report writing, and contracting for intervention. We use fictional case material to illustrate key points made regarding assessment throughout. The ideas contained in this chapter are drawn from a variety of sources including Beckett (1994), Graham, Richardson and Bhate (1997), Becker, (1998), APA Task Force (1999), Will (1999), and Sheerin and O’ Reilly (2000), and O’ Reilly (2001). Each of these authors provide useful information and ideas on conducting clinical assessments with young people who sexually abuse.

This volume presents results from a series of empirical studies conducted in the field of child protection in Ireland. The studies throw light of the epidemiology of child sexual abuse (CSA), profiles of CSA survivors and perpetrators and their families, and important treatment-related issues. In this chapter an overview of key findings from the studies described in the remainder of the volume is presented.

Studies of the psychological adjustment of adolescents who sexually abuse other youngsters have shown that they differ from normal control groups, and hold some features in common with clinical control groups with other psychological problems and incarcerated control groups convicted of non-sexual offences. For example, they show more behaviour problems than normal controls but not incarcerated controls; they have difficulties with making and maintaining friendships and establishing empathy with others; they have problems with impulse control, anger management and assertiveness; and they come from families characterized by a variety of problems. Despite the burgeoning international literature in this area, few studies have been conducted on Irish adolescent sexual abusers and non-adjudicated abusers.

This article describes a group intervention aimed at promoting change among young people who have engaged in sexually abusive behaviour. The intervention combines two complimentary models of the process of change to produce what we describe as ‘11 Steps of Motivation and Action in Changing Sexually Abusive Behaviour’. A list of these steps can be presented to young people in treatment . Each step also has illustrative stories and accompanying question cards that invite group discussion designed to promote the process of change in young people with sexually abusive behaviour.

This article describes a group based intervention for adolescents designed to improve motivation to change sexually abusive behaviour. The intervention is based upon the Prochaska and DiClemente (1983, 1986) stages of change model and Morrison’s (1998) seven steps in contemplating change model. We have combined these two models to produce “11 Steps of Motivation and Action in Changing Sexually Abusive Behaviour”. These 11 steps form the foundation of this intervention. We describe how we use the 11 steps, with accompanying vignettes describing juvenile sexual abusers at various points along the continuum of change, and question cards, to promote change. Examples of the vignettes are also provided along with a discussion of how they can be used to motivate change, develop healthy group norms in treatment, and set individual goals for clients. Finally we highlight the possibility of future applications of this intervention with male adult abusers, adolescent and adult female abusers, parents groups, significant other groups, individual clients, and children with sexually aggressive behaviour. Author has checked copyright AD 20/01/2014

This paper outlines the approach to evaluating the sex offender treatment programme currently running in the Irish prison system. It begins with an introduction to the scope of the problem of sexual offending as reflected by the extent of the prison population in Ireland who have been convicted of a variety of sexual offences. It then outlines two key points that can be gleaned from several decades of general research on evaluating the effectiveness of psychological treatments while indicating how they have been included in our present research. We also describe the variety of data sources that need to be incorporated into an effective evaluation of prison based sex offender treatment programmes. We conclude with an introduction to some preliminary findings from our on-going research. These finding high-light the return in terms of more reliable information when care is taken in developing a robust method for the evaluation of prison-based sex offender treatment programmes. Author has checked copyright AD 16/01/2014

Author has checked copyright AD 17/01/2014