Reflexivity, Reflection, and the Change Process in Offender Work

This study explores the therapeutic engagement experiences of men who have sexually offended against children and who are involved in a prototypical prison-based group treatment programme. The study examined factors relating to the therapeutic engagement of the offender in treatment, and in particular, the impact of the "out-of-group" time between sessions. The findings, although tentative, suggest that between formal therapy sessions, clients of the programme make significant movement either toward or away from engagement in the therapy. The implications of these processes with respect to clinical practice and the development of offender services are discussed.