Treating Sex Offender Denial: Measuring Client Change and Contributing Therapeutic Factors

Abstract

Denial is believed to be a serious impediment to the most effective sex offender treatment. Research in support of this contention is limited, as is research into the specific content and process components which may reduce denial. Additionally, perhaps because sex offenders are so reviled by the public, soliciting their opinions on the efficacy of treatment components is rarely done. This study utilized a pretest/posttest design to measure the effect of a twelve-week treatment group on types of denial and solicited group members’ opinions on the helpfulness of specific components. Results indicated denial was lowered and group cohesiveness contributed most significantly. An implication is that group process factors in sex offender treatment might be studied more rigorously in the future.