Gender-responsive treatment for women who have perpetrated child sexual abuse: The value of client and practitioner voices in the pursuit of best-practice

Bricklyn Priebe

doi:10.25907/00965

This PhD thesis explored key treatment considerations for women sentenced for child sexual abuse (CSA) in Australia by drawing on the voices of justice-involved women and practitioners tasked with providing intervention. A mixed-methods approach grounded in phenomenological epistemology was adopted, resulting in rich qualitative and supplementary quantitative data to address three core research questions: (1) To what extent is there demand for gender-specific sexual offending treatment programs (SOTPs) for women in Australia? (2) What unique considerations are necessary for the design and development of such programs? (3) What current challenges exist in implementing these programs within custodial settings in Australia? Findings revealed that there is demand for SOTPs for women in Australia. Participants identified numerous perceived benefits of such programs, including the potential to: (1) build greater self-awareness and tools for change; (2) provide opportunities for peer support; and (3) give clients the ability to make offence-free plans for their future. With regard to treatment targets, participants highlighted a need for gendered approaches, particularly when addressing past traumatic experiences, unhealthy relationships, offence-supportive beliefs about sex and intimacy, lowered self-esteem and self-worth, and struggles with parenting. Furthermore, findings indicated that program design and delivery for women should include innovative and holistic methods (e.g., art therapy), safe therapeutic treatment settings (e.g., informal communal spaces), and a focus on building strong, positive relationships inclusive of treatment providers and peer support. Finally, results showed that despite advancements in correctional practice, there are a range of barriers to implementing SOTPs for women in correctional environments in Australia, including system-level barriers, inadequate professional tools and expertise, and obstructive attitudes and perceptions from corrections staff. Three primary contributions stem from this PhD research. First, this research amplified the user-voice – particularly women in custodial settings – whose perspectives are frequently overlooked in academic and clinical discourse. Second, the research addressed a critical gap in research and practice concerning the design and implementation of gender-responsive SOTPs for women in Australia. Finally, this research added to broader criminal justice efforts aimed at enhancing accountability and community safety. Importantly, when viewed collectively, these findings have implications for current and future correctional policy and practice. These include that treatment for women convicted of CSA, should: 1. Be gender-responsive, however, generalisations about women who sexually offend should be avoided. This is because women who sexually offend are a heterogeneous group, and while there are important gender-based considerations for treatment, ultimately an individualised approach is necessary to be responsive to diversity in this cohort. 2. Encompass multi-layered trauma-informed support, including integration of trauma content-oriented modules, strategies to mitigate the effects of trauma, and careful consideration given to minimise the risks of re-traumatisation. 3. Emphasise self-efficacy, strengths, empowerment, and goal setting. A forward focused approach is needed to build the personal and social identity of women and enhance treatment responsiveness. 4. Be holistic, comprehensive, and integrative. It requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders, as well as continued efforts to address crime risks post-release from custody. This is necessary to address micro-level individual and family systems as well as macro-level socio-cultural challenges. 5. Coincide with a substantive resource investment, including commitment to financial and material buy-in, and building the capacity of human resources, including staff and correctional clients. 6. Account for the Australian socio-cultural-political context when considering program design and implementation. It is necessary to consider the impact of the political landscape, current correctional environments, legal provisions, gender roles and dynamics, and cultural considerations for First Nations clients. Overall, these unique and valuable contributions to the field of correctional rehabilitation help to advance understanding of what may constitute best-practice in treatment for women who sexually offend, and offer the potential to bring Australia closer to international benchmarks and standards of correctional practice. The findings also have global relevance, offering practical insights for treatment providers nationally and internationally.

Gender-responsive treatment for women who have perpetrated child sexual abuse: The value of client and practitioner voices in the pursuit of best-practice

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