Working with Sex Offenders: A Guide for Practitioners / Edition 1

by Daniel Wilcox, Marguerite Donathy, Rosie Gray, Clark Baim

Overview

Working with Sex Offenders is a unique book which brings together leading practitioners in the field to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date distillation of relevant guidance to assist anyone who works with sex offenders.

The authors examine topics including assessment, treatment, supervision and safeguarding. Skills and strategies for successful engagement with offenders are a key focus of the book, as well as improving understanding of underpinning factors associated with offending and desistance.

This volume, which is derived from well-received presentations hosted by the UK’s National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers (NOTA) over a number of years, also offers a detailed examination of individual, organisational and societal roles in relation to identifying and preventing sexual abuse in our communities.

Using case examples throughout, Working with Sex Offenders will be essential reading for all professionals involved in the management and treatment of sex offenders.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138933545
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/14/2017
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Daniel T. Wilcox is Managing Director of Wilcox Psychological Associates (WPA). He is a registered clinical and forensic psychologist, an honorary associate professor at the University of Nottingham, School of Medicine (Division of Psychiatry), and an honorary research fellow at the University of Birmingham, Centre for Forensic and Criminological Psychology.

Marguerite L. Donathy is a trainee forensic psychologist who is in the final year of a doctorate in Forensic Psychology Practice with the University of Birmingham. She is the Midlands branch Chair for NOTA and regularly contributes to forensic risk assessments and therapeutic interventions with sexual and violent offenders.

Rosie Gray is a registered forensic psychologist and qualified probation officer, who undertakes forensic risk assessments, offence-focused treatment and safeguarding work with sexual offenders and their families.

Clark Baim is Co-Director of the Birmingham Institute for Psychodrama and Change Point Learning and Development, specialising in the fields of criminal justice, mental health, social work and the voluntary sector. He is a senior trainer in psychodrama psychotherapy and is a registered psychotherapist with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy.

Table of Contents

About the editors About the contributors Foreword Preface Part I: Introduction 1 An introduction to working with individuals who commit sex offences Part II: Discussion of assessment methods and issues 2 Cognitive sexual interest and aversion: are these ‘missing links’ in sex offender assessment, formulation and intervention? 3 Is some sexual offending underpinned by obsessionality? 4 A contemporary approach to the assessment of risk in sexually abusive youth 5 Understanding normal sexual functioning to assess sexual deviancy Part III: Therapeutic preparation, skills and models 6 Developing more effective interviewing skills with men who commit sexual offences 7 Understanding attachment strategies in adult men who have committed sexual offences: applications of the Dynamic-Maturational Model (DMM) 8 Empathy: what is it? Should we treat it? If so, how? 9 Motivating sex offenders to enter and effectively engage in treatment Part IV: Working with different types of offenders 10 The Internet Flow Model and sexual offending 11 Educators who sexually offend 12 Working with sexual offenders with intellectual developmental disabilities 13 Working with sexual offenders with mental health issues Part V: Systems and organisational safety 14 The role of person and place in preventing child sexual abuse 15 Boundary violation in therapeutic work: effects, risk indicators and organisational issues 16 Defining the scope and prevention strategy for addressing child sexual abuse Part VI: Concluding thoughts 17 Future training needs in the sex offending treatment field: five domains of training Index

Editorial Reviews

"Drawing on the experience of an impressive range of figures in the field, this wide ranging book is a valuable contribution to support those working with adult & adolescent sex offenders. In accessibly written concise chapters it provides reviews of current knowledge in this fast evolving area of practice. Highly recommended for all those working to prevent sexual violence." - Marcus Erooga, Independent Safeguarding Consultant and past Chair of the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers (NOTA)

"This volume is as scholarly as it is practical. Accessible at every turn, it reflects the state of the science in our field and beyond. As one who has worked to balance these elements in print myself, the editors’ results are enviable. The chapters are expertly written and there is a smooth flow throughout, making this is an indispensable volume." - David Prescott, Professional Development, Becket Family of Services, USA and past President of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA)

"This book provides a fascinating array of chapters that every sexual offence practitioner will want to read. Not only does it cover key therapeutic issues and controversies in the area but it also tackles issues of professionalism, abuse prevention, and practitioner training needs. This book is a valuable read for practitioners at every level." - Professor Theresa A. Gannon, CORE-FP, University of Kent

"Practitioners are always seeking knowledge and guidance. Within this compilation, written by a group of well-credentialed experts, the inexperienced and experienced practitioner alike will find something of immense value. Whether it is an up-to-date assessment of what we know, expert insights into clinical areas directly or indirectly relevant to our day-to-day work, or practical guidance on the complexities associated with assessing or treating a sex offender, there is a learning opportunity awaiting the reader. I have no doubt that this compilation is set to become a well-used resource within the United Kingdom and abroad. The editors have assisted all of us in their efforts to bring together a number of selected lectures and workshops provided for the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers." - Jayson Ware, Group Director, Offender Services & Programs, Corrective Services NSW, Department of Justice

"This is a comprehensive book, which explains contemporary issues in working with and assessing sex offenders in a manner that is easily translatable into clinical practice. It gives food for thought about moving forward in our understanding of the work we do with sex offenders. This is an essential read for practitioners working with, or thinking of working with, sex offenders." - Dr Ruth J. Tully, Consultant Forensic Psychologist & Assistant Professor, Centre for Forensic and Family Psychology, University of Nottingham

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Gary Kaniuk, PsyD (Cermak Health Services)
Description: This guide to working with sex offenders covers both assessment and therapeutic issues and explores safety and ethical issues.
Purpose: The book is based on selected lectures and workshops provided for the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers (NOTA) that were developed into chapters and updated for publication. The introduction notes, "Throughout this period, the aim of these NOTA training events has been to inform and advance learning in the field of sex offender work amongst professionals holding the responsibility for managing, evaluating and treating these individuals in our society." The book meets these worthy objectives.
Audience: The book is based on selected lectures and workshops provided for the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers (NOTA) that were developed into chapters and updated for publication. The introduction notes, "Throughout this period, the aim of these NOTA training events has been to inform and advance learning in the field of sex offender work amongst professionals holding the responsibility for managing, evaluating and treating these individuals in our society." The book meets these worthy objectives.
Features: The book differentiates between internet only offenders and contact offending. It notes that cognitive processes are an important variable, since internet-only offenders may have a preference for novel stimuli as opposed to physiological and behavioral urges, and automatic cognitions can be changed through conditioning approaches. The book notes there are links between sexual urges and obsessive-compulsive disorders, and it is important to conduct an assessment which determines when normal sexual functioning turns into deviancy. Clinicians should explore sexual identity and desire, along with paraphilias and sexual dysfunction. The next part discusses therapeutic approaches. The initial interview must be comprehensive in terms of psychosocial history and mental status. Sexual interests and behavior are assessed, while the attachment history can help the therapist understand the quality of the client's relationships. The authors introduce the DMM (Dynamic-Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation). Professionals often address "empathy" with clients to see if they can recognize emotional states in others and experience them as well. Motivational interviewing has been used with sex offenders to help motivate them to participate in treatment. However, it should be used from a strengths-based perspective. Both the therapist's approach and skill can help facilitate the achievement of treatment goals and, obviously, treatment must be individualized. The "Internet Flow Model" was developed from the work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in order to break the addiction process. The authors mention that individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities have similar pathways to offending as those without these disabilities. Clinicians are encouraged to use an integrated approach when treating sex offenders who have mental illness. A national policy on preventing sexual abuse has to be developed because it is preventable. The book ends with a discussion of training needs for professionals.
Assessment: This book discusses the very important topic of working with sex offenders, explores assessment and therapy along with ethical issues, and provides resources for clinicians working with a difficult population.

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