A Center for Hope
Michael Kelley, Ph.D., MFT
Marriage & Family Therapists, Inc.

Working With Adolescent Sexual Behavior Issues
Provider # PCE 1987

Dr. Kelley provides individual and sometimes group counseling (minimum of three adolescents) sessions to adolescents exhibiting inappropriate sexual behaviors.  The core of both the individual and group treatment programs is based on a cognitive-behavioral, psycho-educational model that focuses on changing the adolescent's behavior by changing his or her thoughts.  Our treatment plans are offense-specific.  Inappropriate adolescent sexual behavior is often associated with distorted thinking that serves to rationalize sexualized behavior.  Many of these thinking errors are learned behaviors that have to be unlearned.  Cognitive distortions also facilitate the adolescent's denial that they may have inappropriate sexual behavior.

Adolescent sexualized behavior is often thought to have a strong familial or extended family component.  During the course of treatment, adolescents will learn how to collect, analyze and use family data to possibly help them more fully understand their sexual offending patterns and to develop more functional patterns of behavior.

Additionally, we do risk assessments for adolescents exhibiting inappropriate sexual behaviors.  As part of our assessment we use a complete, in-depth history questionnaire and several extensive interviews (which may include family members, probation officers, social workers, extended family members and possibly friends, etc.).  All contacts outside of the adolescent will be made after Releases of Confidential Information forms have been signed by both the parents, if possible, all legal guardians and the adolescent.  Part of our assessment also includes using a variety of test instruments, such as the JESness, MACI, ERASOR, J-SOAP, J-RAT, and the Sexual Projective Card Set (SPCS) obtained from the Safer Society.  Additionally, we may do some initial Schema investigations using various instruments obtained from Jeffrey White.

MORE ABOUT THE THERAPY

The Center's generalized treatment methodology will be presented briefly to allow a better understanding of the program ingredients.  This generalized treatment methodology is then tailored into individual, offense-specific treatment goals, plans and interventions for each adolescent with whom The Center works.  A synopsis of six phases of treatment at The Center is as follows:

• Orientation Phase and Goals
  1. acquaint the adolescent with the purposes of the program
  2. set rules, guidelines and boundaries
  3. acquaint the adolescent with the various legal terminology he or she may have
      encountered; define types of sexual offenders
  4. begin to assume responsibility for his or her behavior and begin to develop victim empathy
  5. set goals for therapy
  6. discuss unique definitions of confidentiality and privilege
   

• Understanding and Defining Phase and Goals
  1. provide an introduction and understanding of feelings
  2. provide an introduction and understanding of the types of denial, kinds of distorted
      thinking errors
  3. dispel myths about sexual offenses
  4. identify the nature of why adolescents commit sexual offenses
  5. gain an understanding of grooming and maintenance behaviors
  6. continue to take responsibility for behavior and increase capacity for empathy
   

• Confrontational Phase and Goals
  1. by this time the adolescent should be able to freely discuss his or her offense(s)
  2. letter writing, Gestalt Empty Chair and other interventions eliciting empathy for the
      adolescent's victim(s) is emphasized.
  3. continued empathy and responsibility development
   

• Relapse Prevention Phase and Goals
  1. introduce the notions of the Victim and Success cycles
  2. educate on breathing exercises to promote relaxation
  3. pre-offense patterns awareness
  4. re-integration of thinking errors
  5. introduction to seemingly unimportant decisions (SUDS) and maintenance cycles
  6. further "getting in touch with feelings" work
  7. empathy and responsibility
   

• Controlling and Clarification Phase and Goals
  1. aid the adolescent in controlling his or her urges
  2. addressing the issues associated with possible sexual or physical abuse of the adolescent
  3. ensure the adolescent has a clear understanding of the feelings of his or her victim(s)
  4. restitution, if possible
  5. empathy and responsibility
   

• Resolution Phase and Goals
  1. introduce the 12-step sex offender accountability model
  2. introduce work that begins to allow the adolescent to develop a responsible and healthy
      set of values, attitudes, and behaviors
  3. provide proper time for closure and termination
  4. empathy and responsibility

The Center also offers 3- to 6-hour seminars to counselors and groups who want to learn more about working with inappropriate adolescent sexual behaviors.

Course Content and Objectives

• to provide specialized training to professionals working with adolescent sexual behavior

• to provide information on adolescent sexual behavior to professionals who may not have knowledge of the vast number of issues facing this population

• to suggest guidelines for working with adolescent sexual behaviors that emphasize the physical, mental, and emotional transformation of the adolescent while assisting him or her in taking responsibility for his or her own recovery

• to acquaint professionals with some of the videos, materials, and exercises that are available to utilize when working with this special population

This course is structured to be taught on-site at the contracting agency's facility.  Please call The Center for rates.

This course meets the qualifications for six hours of continuing education credit for MFTs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.  For further information, please contact A Center for Hope at (408) 431-6317 or send e-mail to: thecenter@pacbell.net