Summary
Contents
Clearly written, A Personal Manual for Maintaining Change presents a cognitive-behavioral approach to relapse prevention developed by Hilary Eldridge and pilot tested in community-based secure hospital and prison sex offender programs. Step-by-step, the system focuses on the notion of control and taking responsibility for one's actions rather than a “cure.” It requires participants to become active in the change process toward the ultimate goal of being able to self-manage. Manual sections address the thinking, feeling, and behavior patterns of the perpetrator in relation to cycles of offending, cognitive distortions, cognitive and affective empathy, sexuality, social relationships, and self. It is assumed that this program will be managed by a professionally qualified and experienced therapist who has good supervision, support, and the opportunity to evaluate client progress. A Personal Manual for Maintaining Change may be used to link individuals with group work, as well as prisons with community-based programs. It is well integrated with existing programs and user-friendly for all who work in a professional capacity with adult male sex offenders. This is a professional book for client-oriented self-management or therapy to be supervised by social workers, mental health agencies, prison staff, hospital staff, probation officers, psychologists, and other health care professionals. It also makes an excellent training resource or textbook for therapists, counselors, social workers, nurses, and other mental health professionals.
Material
Handout: Introduction to Phase 1
This part of the manual contains information and exercises for you to do during the first phase of therapy. The exercises will help you to
- work out what you gain and lose from offending;
- become more aware of the signs you can pick up on in your own thoughts, moods, and behaviors that tell you you're getting into a state where reoffending is more likely;
- become more aware of your own offending cycle or pattern; and
- start making plans for preventing relapse—that is, preventing reoffending.
Handout: Learning Control
Sex offending is not an illness outside your control. Sometimes you may feel that it is outside your control, but it actually isn't. It's just that you've developed a habit to which you've ...