Cognitive Group Counselling for Sexual Offenders

Cognitive group counselling was employed with two populations of sexual offenders against children, one in a psychiatric setting, the other in a correctional institution. Both groups were assessed pre- and post-treatment using a psychometric package, which included the Sexual Myths (SM) subscale of the Sexual Knowledge and Attitude Test (SKAT), the Abel Cognition Scales (child sexual abuse-COG-C; rape-COG-R), the Hostility Towards Women Scale, a 15-point contributing factors list, and self-report measures of motivation and potential for counseling. Significant positive treatment effects were observed in both groups on the SM, COG-C, and COG-R. This is interpreted as indicating that cognitive group counselling can be effective in helping child sexual abusers to reevaluate and remodel their cognitions about their victims and offenses. Further, it is noted that this method can be useful in both psychiatric and correctional facilities.