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Adult Intervention

Mainstream Programme

STOP’s Adult Service provides intervention for adult men who have sexually abused or offended. An Assisted Learning Programme (ALP) for men with intellectual disabilities and learning difficulties who have sexually abused or offended is also provided. (Refer ALP Programme below).   The Programmes are for men over the age of 19 who have been involved in contact abuse, (sexual contact with a child or non-consenting adult) or non-contact abuse (indecent exposure, viewing child pornography) etc., regardless of whether they have been formally charged or convicted.

The intervention programmes includes both day and evening group therapy once a week for men.  Individual therapy, family support and whanau work with Maori and Pacific Island clients is provided for the men on the programme and their support people.

STOP also provides specialist risk assessments, community education and consult services for professionals and caregivers.   We are also able to accept referrals for adult women who have sexually abused or offended.

Programme Structure

GROUP INTERVENTION:   The main intervention group is a minimum of 52 weeks for the mainstream male clients. The content is standardised and based on international research in terms of the affect, cognition and behaviour that is targeted and the order in which this is delivered. Though moderated by the formulations of the particular group of clients, treatment includes:

  • Group norming and Mihimihi ( welcome)
  • Understanding Offence process
  • Victim Impact and empathy
  • Arousal reconditioning
  • Mood Management
  • Relationship skills
  • Sexuality and sex education
  • Relapse prevention

INDIVIDUAL THERAPY:   Each client has individual sessions with their primary clinician to supplement and develop specific treatment goals that are identified in the assessment.    An individualised programme may be delivered for adult women subject to staffing availability

FAMILY WORK:  Family/whanau and significant others of each client are supported by the family clinician by way of family sessions and home visits.

Family members, after an assessment process, will attend for group education work where they will have the support to discuss the impact of their family members behaviour as well as receive education regarding  all the modules their partners will be undertaking in their treatment.

REVIEWS:   Clients’ progress during intervention is reviewed 3 monthly by a formal review process to which all support persons, personal and professional are invited

END OF INTERVENTION REPORT

REFERRAL TO OTHER SERVICES (if necessary)

Assisted Learning Programme (ALP)

For men who have an intellectual disability or learning difficulty who have engaged in sexually abusive or offensive behaviour

A. THE CONTENT

The ALP treatment group is a 24-month programme.  It is based on the cognitive-behavioural and social learning theory perspectives, which imply a philosophy of sexually inappropriate behaviour as learned behaviour that may be unlearned, relearned, and/or managed.  However, treatment of the sexually abusive behaviour is not a cure and its success depends strongly on the ongoing and intensive support for the clients.

The ALP Programme is organised into the following modules of treatment.

  • Welcome module, (developing group cohesiveness, group rules, confidentiality)
  • New Me and Old Me – promoting hope for change
  • Self-talk and thinking errors
  • Old Me cycle – understanding one’s sexually abusive behaviour
  • New Me cycle – learning relapse prevention strategies
  • Victim Impact
  • Relationship skills (includes sex and sexuality module)
  • Life and social skills
  • Anger management and assertiveness skills
  • Final module, (updating the client’s safety plan, exploring issues related to his completion of the programme and revision of relapse prevention strategies).

Group Therapy (Modules)

  1. “WELCOME!” – increasing motivation; normalising anxiety; group rules confidentiality; adventure therapy day
  2. NEW ME and OLD ME – instilling hope for change; facilitating disclosure
  3. GOOD SIDE/BAD SIDE – introducing the basic model
  4. THINKING ERRORS
  5. STEPS TO OLD ME – basic understanding of one’s sexually abusive behaviour
  6. STEPS TO NEW ME – positive alternative to sexually abusive behaviour
  7. HOW TO BUILD THE BRIDGE/S BETWEEN THE STEPS TO OLD ME AND NEW ME? –dealing with High Risk Situations and learning Relapse Prevention Strategies
  8. VICTIM IMPACT – what is a victim; who were my victims; what happened to my victims; what would I like to tell my victims; “Story of my victim/s”
  9. RELATIONSHIP SKILLS – includes Sex and Sexuality component
  10. ANGER AND IMPULSIVE BEHAVIOUR  MANAGEMENT
  11.  FINAL MODULE – revision of relapse prevention strategies; updating safety plans; preparing the client for discharge

B      SUPPORT NETWORK

We recognise that the client’s effective intervention depends on agency and family support, consequently the ALP Programme offers:

  • Family Work
  • System Reviews
  • Education / Support Group for support networks
General Information

The ALP Programme utilises intervention strategies and treatment content that take into account the issues identified for people with an intellectual disability and learning difficulty.   In addition, strategies and context outlined in the STOP programme are designed to match the level of intellectual and adaptive functioning of each of our clients.

Generalisation of the programme material is processed through role-plays and behaviour rehearsal in the treatment group as well as implementation and integration in the residential settings, day programme environments, and community activities.

The ALP Programme utilises multi-agency co-operation and collaboration.   STOP staff members work collaboratively with RIDCA (Regional Intellectual Disability Community Agency), Intellectual Disability Community Team, Community Probation Service, Lifelinks, Richmond Fellowship residential care programmes and family members