ABSTRACT

This chapter provides a brief overview of the evolution of sex offender treatment, and describes the present state of the field which opens the door for trauma resolution as a legitimate treatment method to enhance motivation, restructure distorted offence-supporting beliefs, decrease deviant sexual arousal, and thereby reduce recidivism risk. It explains how to address the offence drivers, i.e. those cognitions, vulnerability factors, self-regulation styles and dynamics that drive the individual to cross the line between prosocial and antisocial, or legal and illegal, sexual behaviours. By targeting and resolving the offence drivers, the Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapist has the ability to complement and enhance treatment for forensically involved individuals and thereby to reduce recidivism. EMDR therapy has utility with the forensic population, including sex offenders, in reducing recidivism risk by addressing the contributing and vulnerability factors to the offence. EMDR therapy is identified for use with children, adolescents and adults.