How to Integrate the Good Lives Model Into Treatment Programs for Sexual Offending

Abstract

The good lives model (GLM) represents a new theoretical framework informing sex offender treatment programs; however, substantial variation has been observed in terms of how GLM-related ideas and practices have been applied. Integrated appropriately, the GLM offers potential for improving outcomes of programs following a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approach and operating according to a narrow operationalization of risk, need, responsivity (RNR) principles. Conversely, misguided or otherwise poor integration could increase the very risk practitioners work to prevent and manage. The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction and overview on how to integrate the GLM into treatment using CBT and RNR. The authors describe clinical implications of the GLM as they relate to program aims and orientation, assessment and intervention planning, content, and delivery.

Keywords

good lives model sexual offender treatment risk need responsivity

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Andrews

D. A.

Bonta

(2006). The psychology of criminal conduct (4th ed.). Cincinnati, OH: Anderson.

Barnett

Wood

J. L.

(2008). Agency, relatedness, inner peace, and problem solving in sexual offending: How sexual offenders prioritize and operationalize their good lives conceptions. Sexual Abuse: Journal of Research and Treatment, 20, 444-465. doi:10.1177/1079063208325202

Bonta

Andrews

D. A.

(2010). Viewing offender assessment and rehabilitation through the lens of the Risk-Need-Responsivity Model. In McNeill

Raynor

Trotter

(Eds.), Offender supervision: New directions in theory, research and practice (pp. 19-40). Oxon, UK: Willan Publishing.

Frisch

M. B.

Cornell

Villanueva

Retzlaff

P. J.

(1992). Clinical validation of the Quality of Life Inventory. A measure of life satisfaction for use in treatment planning and outcome assessment. Psychological Assessment, 4, 92-101. doi:10.1037/1040-3590.4.1.92

Gannon

T. A.

King

Miles

Lockerbie

Willis

G. M.

(2011). Good lives sexual offender treatment for mentally disordered offenders. British Journal of Forensic Practice, 13, 153-168. doi:10.1108/14636641111157805

Gendreau

Goggin

Smith

(1999). The forgotten issue in effective correctional treatment: Program evaluation. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 43, 180-187.

Hanson

R. K.

Bussière

M. T.

(1998). Predicting relapse: A meta-analysis of sexual offender recidivism studies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66, 348-362. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.66.2.348

Hanson

R. K.

Gordon

Harris

A. J. R.

Marques

J. K.

Murphey

Quinsey

V. L.

Seto

M. C.

(2002). First report of the collaborative outcome data project on the effectiveness of psychological treatment for sex offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 14, 169-194.

Hanson

R. K.

Harris

A. J. R.

Scott

Helmus

(2007). Assessing the risk of sexual offenders on community supervision: The Dynamic Supervision Project. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Public Safety Canada.

10.

Hanson

R. K.

Morton-Bourgon

K. E.

(2005). The characteristics of persistent sexual offenders: A meta-analysis of recidivism studies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 1154-1163. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.73.6.1154

11.

Harkins

Flak

V. E.

Beech

(in press). Evaluation of a community-based sex offender treatment program using a Good Lives Model approach. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment.

12.

Hayes

S. C.

Strosahl

Wilson

K. G.

(2011). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford.

13.

Helmus

Babchisin

K. M.

Hanson

R. K.

Thornton

(2010). Static-99R: Revised age weights. Retrieved from http://www.static99.org/pdfdocs/static-99randage20091005.pdf

14.

Kingston

D. A.

Yates

P. M.

Simons

D. A.

Tyler

(2009, October). The Self-Regulation Model of sexual offender treatment: Relationship to risk and the Good Lives Model. Paper presented at the 28th Annual Convention of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), Dallas, TX.

15.

Laws

D. R.

(1989). Relapse prevention with sex offenders. New York, NY: Guilford.

16.

Laws

D. R.

Ward

(2011). Desistance and sexual offending: Alternatives to throwing away the keys. New York, NY: Guildford.

17.

Mann

R. E.

(2009). Sex offender treatment: The case for manualization. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 15, 121-131. doi:10.1080/13552600902907288

18.

Mann

R. E.

Webster

S. D.

Schofield

Marshall

W. L.

(2004). Approach versus avoidance goals in relapse prevention with sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 16, 65-75.

19.

Marshall

W. L.

(2005). Therapist style in sexual offender treatment: Influence on indices of change. Sexual Abuse: Journal of Research and Treatment, 17, 109-116. doi:10.1177/107906320501700202

20.

Marshall

W. L.

(2009). Manualization: A blessing or a curse? Journal of Sexual Aggression, 15, 109-120. doi:10.1080/13552600902907320

21.

Marshall

W. L.

Burton

D. L.

(2010). The importance of group processes in offender treatment. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 15, 141-149. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2009.08.008

22.

Marshall

W. L.

Marshall

L. E.

Serran

G. A.

O’Brien

M. D.

(2011). Rehabilitating sexual offenders: A strength-based approach. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

23.

Marshall

W. L.

O’Brien

M. D.

Marshall

L. E.

(2009). Modifying sexual preferences. In Beech

Craig

L. A.

Browne

K. D.

(Eds.), Assessment and treatment of sex offenders: A handbook (pp. 311-327). Chichester, UK: Wiley.

24.

McGrath

Cumming

Burchard

Zeoli

Ellerby

(2010). Current practices and emerging trends in sexual abuser management: The Safer Society 2009 North American survey. Brandon, VA: Safer Society Press.

25.

Miller

W. R.

Rollnick

(Eds.). (2002). Motivational interviewing: Preparing people for change (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guildford.

26.

Purvis

(2010). Seeking a good life: Human goods and sexual offending. Saarbrücken, Germany: Lambert Academic Press.

27.

Scoones

Willis

G. M.

Grace

R. C.

(2012). Beyond static and dynamic risk factors: The incremental predictive validity of release planning in sex offender risk assessment. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27, 222-238.

28.

Sellen

J. L.

McMurran

Cox

W. M.

Theodosi

Klinger

(2006). The personal concerns inventory (offender adaptation): Measuring and enhancing motivation to chance. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 50, 294-305. doi:10.1177/0306624X05281829

29.

Simons

D. A.

McCullar

Tyler

(2006, September). Evaluation of the Good Lives Model approach to treatment planning. Paper presented at the 25th Annual Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers Research and Treatment Conference, Chicago, IL.

30.

Thornton

(1997, October). Is relapse prevention really necessary? Paper presented at the the meeting of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, Arlington, VA.

31.

Ward

(2002). Good lives and the rehabilitation of offenders: Promises and problems. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 7, 513-528. doi:10.1016/S1359-1789(01)00076-3

32.

Ward

Gannon

T. A.

(2006). Rehabilitation, etiology, and self-regulation: The comprehensive Good Lives Model of treatment for sexual offenders. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11, 77-94. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2005.06.001

33.

Ward

Hudson

S. M.

(1998). A model of the relapse process in sexual offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 13, 700-725.

34.

Ward

Mann

(2004). Good lives and the rehabilitation of offenders: A positive approach to treatment. In Linley

Joseph

(Eds.), Positive psychology in practice (pp. 598-616). New York, NY: John Wiley.

35.

Ward

Mann

R. E.

Gannon

T. A.

(2007). The Good Lives Model of offender rehabilitation: Clinical implications. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 12, 87-107. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2006.03.004

36.

Ward

Maruna

(2007). Rehabilitation: Beyond the risk assessment paradigm. London, UK: Routledge.

37.

Ward

Melser

Yates

P. M.

(2007). Reconstructing the Risk Need Responsivity Model: A theoretical elaboration and evaluation. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 12, 208-228. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2006.07.001

38.

Ward

Stewart

C. A.

(2003). The treatment of sex offenders: Risk management and good lives. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 34, 353-360. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.34.4.353

39.

Ward

Syversen

(2009). Human dignity and vulnerable agency: An ethical framework for forensic practice. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 14, 94-105. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2008.12.002

40.

Ward

Yates

P. M.

Long

C. A.

(2006). The self-regulation model of the offence and relapse process: Vol. 2. Treatment. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: Pacific Psychological Assessment Corporation. Retrieved from http://www.pacific-psych.com

41.

Ward

Yates

P. M.

Willis

G. M.

(2012). The Good Lives Model and the Risk Need Responsivity Model: A critical response to Andrews, Bonta, and Wormith (2011). Criminal Justice and Behavior, 39, 94-110.

42.

Willis

G. M.

Grace

R. C.

(2008). The quality of community reintegration planning for child molesters: effects on sexual recidivism. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 20, 218-240. doi:10.1177/1079063208318005

43.

Willis

G. M.

Grace

R. C.

(2009). Assessment of community reintegration planning for sex offenders: poor planning predicts recidivism. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 36, 494-512. doi:10.1177/0093854809332874

44.

Willis

G. M.

Ward

(2011). Striving for a good life: The Good Lives Model applied to released child molesters. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 17, 290-303. doi:10.1080/13552600.2010.505349

45.

Willis

G. M.

Ward

Levenson

J. S.

(2011, November). Integration of the Good Lives Model: A budding milestone in treatment programs for sexual offending. Paper presented at the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers 30th Annual Research and Treatment Conference, Toronto, Canada.

46.

Yates

P. M.

(2007). Taking the leap: Abandoning relapse prevention and applying the self-regulation model to the treatment of sexual offenders. In Prescott

D. S.

(Ed.), Applying knowledge to practice: The treatment and supervision of sexual abusers (pp. 143-174). Oklahoma City, OK: Wood N Barnes.

47.

Yates

P. M.

(2009). Using the Good Lives Model to motivate sexual offenders to participate in treatment. In Prescott

D. S.

(Ed.), Building motivation to change in sexual offenders. Brandon, VT: Safer Society Press.

48.

Yates

P. M.

Goguen

B. C.

Nicholaichuk

T. P.

Williams

S. M.

Long

C. A.

Jeglic

E. L.

. (2000). National sex offender programs (moderate, low, and maintenance intensity levels). Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Correctional Service of Canada.

49.

Yates

P. M.

Kingston

D. A.

(2011). Pathways to sexual offending. In Schwartz

B. K.

(Ed.), Handbook of sexual offender treatment (Vol. 17, pp. 1-16). Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute.

50.

Yates

P. M.

Kingston

D. A.

Ward

(2009). The Self-Regulation Model of the offence and re-offence process: A guide to assessment and treatment planning using the integrated Good Lives/Self-Regulation Model of sexual offending. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: Pacific Psychological Assessment Corporation.

51.

Yates

P. M.

Prescott

D. S.

(2011). Preventing sexual re-offending: A workbook for building a better life. Brandon, VT: Safer Society Press.

52.

Yates

P. M.

Prescott

D. S.

(2012). Applying the Good Lives Model to clinical practice: Redefining primary human goods (Newsletter of the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers [NOTA]). Retrieved from http://www.nota.co.uk/

53.

Yates

P. M.

Prescott

D. S.

Ward

(2010). Applying the Good Lives and Self-Regulation Models to sex offender treatment: A practical guide for clinicians. Brandon, VT: Safer Society Press.

54.

Yates

P. M.

Simons

D. A.

Kingston

D. A.

Tyler

(2009, October). The Good Lives Model of rehabilitation applied to treatment: Assessment and relationship to treatment progress and compliance. Paper presented at the 28th Annual Convention of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), Dallas, TX.

55.

Yates

P. M.

Ward

(2007). Treatment of sexual offenders: Relapse prevention and beyond. In Witkiewitz

Marlatt

G. A.

(Eds.), Therapists’ guide to evidence-based relapse prevention (pp. 215-234). Burlington, MA: Elsevier Press.

56.

Yates

P. M.

Ward

(2008). Good lives, self-regulation, and risk management: An integrated model of sexual offender assessment and treatment. Sexual Abuse in Australia and New Zealand: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 1, 3-20.