ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores shame, sexual offending, and the moral panic about sexual abuse, which inevitably impact on the counsellor as well as the client. It deals with the initial stage of counselling, focusing on contracting and goal-setting with clients. While most counsellors will be familiar with life story work in one way or another, the book provides an area that is more familiar to probation officers and forensic psychologists: offence-focused work. It also explores psycho-educational means by which a counsellor can raise a client's awareness of offence-related issues, with this approach often proving particularly effective with mandated clients in denial of their offending, who nevertheless need to demonstrate to child protection professionals that their risk can be managed. The book demonstrates how to incorporate the accumulated gains from the counselling process into a final New Life Safety Plan.
