Principles and techniques for maximizing the effectiveness of group therapy with sex offenders.

Group-based interventions are widely used as the preferred method for the treatment of sexual offenders. However, little attention has been given to the vital interpersonal processes within groups, which contribute to their therapeutic effect. This paper describes specific principles and techniques of group therapy that will help sex offender treatment practitioners take full advantage of this unique modality and thereby maximize the positive impact of treatment. In contrast to an individual-focused style that characterizes many sex offender treatment groups, group-focused interventions involve all group members and use the social/relational energy that is essential to the group modality.