U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Treating Child Sex Offenders and Victims: A Practical Guide

NCJ Number
112040
Author(s)
A C Salter
Date Published
1988
Length
343 pages
Annotation
This guide for mental health clinicians examines issues and strategies in the treatment of child sexual abuse offenders, their victims, and families.
Abstract
The prevalence and etiology of child sexual abuse are delineated, and the roles of the offender, the victim, and the offender's spouse are discussed. An overview of the philosophy and structure of child sexual abuse treatment emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary team approach that involves law enforcement, child protective services, and mental health professionals. A family approach to treatment is advocated in most cases. Issues in child sex offender treatment are addressed, including special client characteristics, implications of mandated versus voluntary treatment, offender assessment, treatment goals, and relapse prevention. Special attention is given to dealing with the minimization and denial common to these offenders. Treatment modalities then are described including individual and group therapy, assertiveness and social skills training, behavior therapy, sex education, and cognitive restructuring. Victim identification and treatment are considered within the context of the psychological and behavioral sequelae of child sexual abuse. Treatment of the spouse in intrafamilail sex abuse also is discussed. Substantial appendixes provide information on protocols, assessment instruments, and release and probation conditions in child sex abuse cases. Index, chapter notes, and approximately 250 references.