What was the methodology used in counseling? I’m curious because WAY back when I was 18/19 (I’m 44 now), I read a thing at college about various treatments used in juvenile sex offender programs.
In short, my knowledge in that specific area is limited and quite ancient. Still, I remember it and I’m curious what types of approaches were used.
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I found it fascinating at the time because until then, I had a typically stereotypically understanding of sex offenders, the “free candy in the van” image from after school TV specials.
But not only did I find out that there was a large variety of types of sex offender personalities, but I remember also being shocked that kids/teens could be sex offenders. So, it was eye opening.
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Ah, DBT – it’s like a modified CBT. Yeah, I knew it was used in borderline personality disorders but wasn’t aware it was used in sex offender treatment programs. I believe it had its origins in a Buddhist-y ideas of self-awareness, self-control, breathing techniques, freeing yourself of emotions, stuff like that.
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Yeah, I could see both why ppl thought it might be effective in those cases and also I can see why it wouldn’t work.
The “don’t be gay anymore” bible belt camps borrowed heavily from it as well. Similarly not-working-at-all results.
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A person’s attracted to whom they’re attracted to. Attempts to track causation are usually rather weak and anecdotal. Up through the late 1970s, when a baby’s sex was a bit of both, they defaulted to making the baby female, thinking a person raised as a girl will become a girl.
This would only seem to work through puberty but once puberty hits, whatever happens happens and a person’s sexuality goes where it goes.
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So yeah, it’s not a choice. I don’t think even hormone treatments would make any difference in attraction. It is what it is.
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So from that light, perhaps castration or hormone treatments would only be of limited effect if at all.
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Not much surprises me in the capabilities of humans. When you mentioned your youngest offender was 8 years old, I wasn’t surprised. Onset of puberty can occur long before there’s ANY outward signs.
I have a friend in England who had to put his 9 year old son on puberty blocking medicine. He wasn’t showing any physical changes, but his emotional changes and behavioral changes were striking and when tested, the conclusion was: precocious puberty.
So, his son’s going to be on puberty blocking meds for a few years. Apparently the kid’s a lot happier now too.
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I wonder if it’s been used in sex offender treatment programs? SOMEBODY must be trying it. I found the name of it is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leuprorelin – now I’m curious. There’s a gap in my knowledge in these things, so it’s a good opportunity for me to catch up to 2016.
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aw man, like so many things surrounded by drama… ok, here’s the drama page about it… but I’m hoping to find a scientific article connecting it to sex offender treatment programs… http://lupronvictimshub.com/
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Oh! That *IS* the chemical castration drug! Connection made.
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