Therapeutic Factors in Group Treatment as Perceived by Sex Offenders: A "Consumers' Report"

Thirty-four (34) federally sentenced sex offenders in British Columbia were surveyed using the Yalom (1995) 12 therapeutic factors presented in a 60-item questionnaire Likert format, as well as a semi-structured interview regarding their perceptions of which curative factors were most beneficial to them in treatment. The mean scores for catharsis and self-understanding were found to be rated significantly more helpful than the other factors, while the mean scores for Guidance and Identification were rated significantly less helpful. These findings were consistent with previous research with male sex offenders. Years of education was positively correlated with catharsis, cohesion, self-understanding, and universality. Results suggest that if therapists and programme designers want to maximize the investment of sexual offenders in therapy, they need to build a programme that fosters an atmosphere where group members can work together in a supportive environment and can express thoughts and feelings, and share stories, in such a way that they gain a greater self-understanding. [(C) 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]