ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the key components of a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) treatment program specifically for sex offenders. Overall, the DBT treatment team consists of individual therapists and skills trainers, and acts as a collaborative and supportive network, facilitating effective treatment planning, providing consultation and supervision, maintaining treatment adherence, and fostering client engagement. DBT further emphasizes the importance of the therapists’ and skills trainers’ characteristics and implementation of effective treatment. Therapists and skills trainers must work to help clients balance acceptance and change while maintaining centeredness and flexibility, and providing a nurturing environment. Therapists must address clients’ and their own therapy-interfering behaviors, as these can impede positive treatment outcomes. Quality-of-life-interfering behaviors specific to sex offending must be assessed and addressed to help the client achieve their goals and live a fulfilling life. The hierarchy of treatment targets is used to guide therapy by focusing on sexual dysregulation, therapy- and supervision-interfering behaviors, self-regulation problems, sexual and interpersonal regulation skills, attachment issues, self-efficacy, and overall life improvement. Adhering to the structured hierarchy ensures clarity for the client and treatment providers, goal alignment, and treatment consistency.
