ISH provides comprehensive assessment and outpatient treatment for non-violent sexual offenses and sexual boundary violations. Our treatment approach emphasizes personal responsibility, accountability, understanding about what triggered the offense, and relapse prevention. In addition, we stress victim empathy and promote community safety.
Our program meets the requirements for court-mandated treatment and includes both pre and post-conviction services for men, women and adolescents. We treat the following types of offenses:
- Child Pornography and Internet Offenses
- Incest
- Child molestation
- Voyeurism
- Exhibitionism
- Frotteurism
- Obscene phone calls
- Stalking
- Professional Sexual Misconduct (PSM)
- Workplace Boundary Violations
- Sexual Harassment
Services:
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) – 2 – 3 weeks
- Individual and Group Psychotherapy for Non-Violent Sexual Offenders
- Sex Offender Risk Assessment
- Psychosexual Evaluations
- Forensic Services and Consultation
Sex Offender Treatment Components:
Sex Offender Treatment consists of both individual psychotherapy as well as group therapy. Patients also receive educational programming on childhood trauma, developing empathy and learning healthy coping skills. Our treatment approach involves cognitive-behavioral therapy, psycho-education and monitoring and consists of the following components.
Psychosexual Assessment: A psychosexual assessment to determine the legal, psychological, mental health and sexual health needs of the patient is required. Referrals will be offered to those who do not meet criteria for the program. We do not treat violent sexual offenders.
Containment: Patients are helped to immediately stop offending behaviors and develop a detailed plan, which defines the specific behaviors they agree to avoid and eliminate. Monitoring and compliance is emphasized in order to prevent re-offending behavior.
Responsibility and Accountability: Patients are helped to clarify the nature of their offense and required to take responsibility for their behavior. In a non-shaming environment, they gain insight into the importance of responsibility and assume ownership of their choices. Patients are helped to rectify distorted thoughts and belief systems that contribute to offenses. We help patients confront common defenses such as minimization, denial, rationalization and blame.
Understanding Triggers and Risk Factors: Education on the common risk factors involved in sexual offending is provided and patients develop a detailed description of triggers and vulnerabilities that pertain to their offense patterns.
Trauma Resolution: An examination of family of origin issues and social and emotional development helps patients clarify how and why particular patterns and responses developed in their lives. This process involves a detailed autobiographical inventory and the identification of poor coping and problem-solving skills. Within a supportive group context, patients work on resolving and healing early wounding and trauma.
Victim Empathy: Understanding how offending behaviors and patterns impact others is a critical component of treatment. Patients learn emotional recognition and articulation, and, are provided with structured exercises to help them learn to respect and value the emotional well being of others.
Relapse Prevention and Community Safety: The development of a highly detailed relapse prevention plan, which consists of strategies to deal with triggers and vulnerabilities is required. Patients refine their relapse prevention plans until they meet the standards, which allow them to graduate from the program. Patients are provided with a risk assessment evaluation in order to assess risk for offense recidivism.
Aftercare Program: When patients graduate from the program and complete treatment, they are encouraged to attend a once-a-month aftercare group. This follow-up program allows them to process ongoing life issues in a safe environment and maintain relapse prevention goals. Opportunities for mentorship are available to those patients who desire to be of service to others.
Partner, Spouses and Family
We empathize with the pain and confusion which partners, spouses, parents, and family members of sex offenders often experience. We offer services to help educate, support and restore family unity.
Court Evaluations
The Institute provides psychosexual evaluations, risk-assessments, and can provide with letters for the court and documentation of treatment to be used in court. We accept referrals from attorneys, probation officers and agencies, and the courts.
For more information about our Non-Violent Sex Offender Program, please contact us at (310) 286-1300.
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