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TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS USING ALTERED STATES, MENTAL IMAGERY AND COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING

NCJ Number
68786
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: (1979) Pages: 221-226
Author(s)
A FIORE
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
OFFENDERS IN ENTELECHIAL THERAPY BEGIN TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS, REACH THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS, MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS, REGAIN THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, AND FIND PURPOSE AND MEANING IN THEIR LIVES.
Abstract
THIS FORM OF THERAPY ASSUMES THAT OFFENDERS ARE BASICALLY GOOD, WANT TO DO BETTER, HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF GROWTH WITHIN THEM, WENT AGAINST SOCIETY BECAUSE OF BELIEF SYSTEMS ACQUIRED EARLIER IN LIFE THROUGH CORE EXPERIENCES, AND PERCEIVE THE WORLD CONSISTENTLY WITH THEIR BASIC BELIEFS ABOUT THEMSELVES. IN ENTELECHIAL TREATMENT, THERAPIST AND PATIENT ARE IN SEPARATE ROOMS IN ALL BUT THE INITIAL TREATMENT SESSION BECAUSE (1) PERSONS' ANSWERS LIE WITHIN THEMSELVES, NOT WITHIN THE THERAPIST; (2) THIS ARRANGEMENT APPEARS TO DECREASE TRANSFERENCE AND DEPENDENCY FEELINGS; AND (3) THIS SITUATION IS EXTREMELY CONDUCIVE TO THE INDUCTION OF AN ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS (ASC). A GENERAL ASC IS INDUCED IN ENTELECHIAL THERAPY; IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE PATIENT ACHIEVES THE TYPE AND DEPTH OF ASC APPROPRIATE TO HIS NEEDS FOR ANY PARTICULAR SESSION. AFTER THE INITIAL CONSULTATION, THERAPY PROCEEDS BY PLACING THE OFFENDER IN A RECLINING, VIBRATING CHAIR, WEARING HEADPHONES. THE THERAPIST CAN OBSERVE VIA CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION AND COMMUNICATES WITH THE PATIENT THROUGH AN AUDIO SYSTEM. THERAPY BEGINS WITH INDUCTION OF AN ASC VIA PRERECORDED TAPES AND CONTINUES WITH TAPES THAT RANGE FROM DIAGNOSTIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND EMOTIONALLY RECONSTRUCTIVE, TO THOSE THAT WERE DEVELOPED TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF SUBCONSCIOUS FUNCTIONING OR TO IMPROVE PROBLEMSOLVING ABILITY. MENTAL IMMAGERY IS USED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS TO MOFIFY COVERT AND OVERT BEHAVIOR BY IMAGERY MANIPULATION, TO MONITOR INTRAPSYCHIC CHANGE IN THERAPEUTIC PROCESS AND PROGRESS, AND TO PROMOTE INSIGHT AND SELFUNDERSTANDING. THIS FORM OF THERAPY APPEARS TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN AIMED AT BRINGING OFFENDERS TO A GREATER AWARENESS OF THEIR TRUE TALENTS, CAPABILITITES, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. TWO CASE STUDIES AND 13 REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.