PSYCHOSEXUAL ASSESSMENTS for Children and Adolescents with Problematic Sexual Behavior. Who is qualified to conduct a psychosexual evaluation?

Transcription

1 PSYCHOSEXUAL ASSESSMENTS fr Children and Adlescents with Prblematic Sexual Behavir When a child r adlescent is suspected r bserved t have engaged in what may be sexually inapprpriate r sexually aggressive behavir, the child/adlescent may benefit frm a sexualized behavir risk assessment including recmmendatins t address the behavir. Such an assessment, called a psychsexual evaluatin r assessment usually includes a descriptin f the scpe f the difficulty, by defining the nature, histry, and structure f the sexual prblem. This specialized assessment ften includes interviews; review f recrds, and in sme cases psychlgical testing. The gals f such an assessment is t identify and describe behavir and patterns f sexualized actins that are prblematic, t help differentiate between prblematic and expected sexual develpment, t establish the level f risk that the child/adlescent presents t ther children/adlescents and the cmmunity, and t speak t the type f interventin mst apprpriate fr the child/adlescent. What is a psychsexual evaluatin? It is an evaluatin cnducted by a mental health prfessinal that fcuses n the client's psychlgical and sexual functining. This evaluatin als examines the client's sexual interests, attitudes and behavirs t see if the client has a sexual deviancy prblem. These evaluatins als assess the client's risk fr re-ffending r acting ut sexually in the future. This part f the evaluatin is called a risk assessment. Wh is qualified t cnduct a psychsexual evaluatin? A mental health prfessinal, usually licensed with a master's r dctral degree in cunseling, scial wrk, psychlgy r sme ther mental health discipline is qualified t cnduct an evaluatin. The prfessinal shuld have received specialized training in hw t assess and treat sexual deviancy. This is a specialty area in which mst mental health prfessinals have nt received training. The mental health prfessinal shuld have training and/r experience in evaluating individuals in the specified age range. Fr example, if the evaluatr is cnducting a psychsexual evaluatin f an adult, then he r she shuld have training in evaluating sexual deviancy in adults. Or, if the client is a sexually aggressive child, then the evaluatr shuld be trained in assessing sexual issues in children SW 2 nd Avenue, Suite Y Gainesville, FL Phne (352) Fax (352)

2 The Assciatin fr the Treatment f Sexual Abusers (ATSA) is an rganizatin f prfessinals wh are trained t evaluate and treat sexual abusers. Accrding t ATSA's "Principles fr the Management f Sexual Abusers," a mental health prfessinal wh wrks with sex ffenders shuld have "demnstrated cmpetence in prviding a minimum f 2000 hurs f face-t-face cntact with clients wh have perpetrated sexual abuse." What des a psychsexual evaluatin invlve? A psychsexual evaluatin can include general psychlgical testing, IQ testing and questinnaires that assess ne's sexual interests, attitudes and behavirs. Fr adlescents, this evaluatin might als include cmpleting a plygraph assessment r a test that measures ne's sexual interest in different types f sexual stimuli. This test is called an Abel Assessment. The types f testing and prcedures used in psychsexual evaluatins vary with the age f the client being evaluated. Thus, the testing fr children is different frm the testing administered t adlescents and adults. When is a psychsexual evaluatin needed? It is needed when smene is knwn t have cmmitted a sex ffense. A psychsexual evaluatin can assess the individual's treatment needs and risk fr re-ffending. This is described n ATSA's web site ( Treatment is nt intended t replace ther pssible respnses thrugh the criminal justice system, but is intended fr use in cnjunctin with ther ptins fr the reductin f verall rates f sexual ffending in a cmmunity. Fr sexually aggressive children and adlescents, this evaluatin can als be helpful in assessing the child's placement needs. Fr example, a psychsexual evaluatin can help determine if the child needs residential treatment t treat his sexually aggressive behavirs. When smene has been suspected f having cmmitted a sex ffense r acted in an inapprpriate sexual manner. A psychsexual evaluatin cannt assess guilt r inncence regarding a specific sex ffense. Hwever, this type f evaluatin can be helpful in assessing if a client has a sexual deviancy prblem that requires specialized treatment SW 2 nd Avenue, Suite Y Gainesville, FL Phne (352) Fax (352)

3 Psychsexual evaluatins can be fr: Children Adlescents Adults Psychsexual Evaluatins fr Children When des a child need a psychsexual evaluatin? When a child is shwing inapprpriate sexual behavir such as: Excessive masturbatin Making inapprpriate sexual cmments and gestures Expsing ne's genitals t thers Sexually tuching ther children wh are 3 r mre years yunger Sexually tuching thers against their will Sexually tuching animals When a child cntinues t act ut sexually despite having been tld t stp. What des a psychsexual evaluatin f a child invlve? This evaluatin usually invlves: An interview with the child's parent r primary caretaker An interview with the child Questinnaires that are cmpleted by the child's parent r caretaker Questinnaires t assess the child's general emtinal and behaviral functining Questinnaires t assess the child's specific sexual behavirs General psychlgical testing that is administered t the child T assess emtinal functining, psychpathlgy and intellectual functining Specific sexual questinnaires r tests that are administered t the child These tests are carefully wrded t use simple, nn-threatening terms such as "private parts". The tests vary depending upn the child's age and develpmental level. What infrmatin is btained frm a psychsexual evaluatin? An assessment f the extent and severity f a child's sexual prblem. Recmmendatins fr the type f treatment a child shuld receive t address his/her sexual prblem SW 2 nd Avenue, Suite Y Gainesville, FL Phne (352) Fax (352)

4 Recmmendatins fr the type f placement a child needs. Fr example, a child's sexual prblem may be t severe fr the child t remain in a hme with yunger children. The child may need t be placed in a hme where there are n yunger children. Or the child may need mre intensive treatment than is available n an utpatient basis. Thus, a specialized residential treatment prgram fr sexually aggressive children may be recmmended. Recmmendatins fr hw a caretaker can implement a safety plan t ensure that a sexually aggressive child des nt have the pprtunity t mlest ther children. Wh typically requests a psychsexual evaluatin f a child? Parents r caretakers wh are cncerned abut their child's sexual behavir. DC&F casewrkers wh are cncerned abut children wh are acting ut sexually. Other prfessinals wh suspect that a child may have a sexual prblem. Funding agencies that are trying t assess if a child needs a specialized residential treatment prgram t address the child's sexually aggressive behavir. Mental health agencies that need t assess a child's specific treatment needs. Psychsexual Evaluatins fr Adlescents When des an adlescent need a psychsexual evaluatin? When an adlescent is shwing inapprpriate sexual behavir such as: Expsing neself. Peeping int thers' windws. Inapprpriately tuching thers against their will. Engaging in sexual activity with children wh are 3 r mre years yunger. Engaging in sexual activity with family members such as siblings. Engaging in sexual activity with a nn-cnsenting partner. Engaging in sexual activity with smene wh is significantly weaker in sme way, such as mentally, physically, emtinally, r scially. Engaging in sexual activity with animals. Engaging in unusual sexual practices such as crss-dressing r stealing wmen's underwear. When an adlescent has been fund guilty r has pled guilty t a sex ffense f any kind. What des a psychsexual evaluatin f an adlescent invlve? This evaluatin usually invlves: An interview with the adlescent's parent r primary caretaker. An interview with the adlescent SW 2 nd Avenue, Suite Y Gainesville, FL Phne (352) Fax (352)

5 A review f cllateral infrmatin such as the victim's statement, plice reprt, r curt recrds. It is very imprtant fr the evaluatr t btain infrmatin abut the client's sexual ffense frm smene ther than the alleged perpetratr since alleged perpetratrs ften deny, distrt, r misrepresent their ffense. ATSA states "any evaluatin cnducted withut cllateral infrmatin shuld be interpreted very cautiusly." (cited frm p.13 f ATSA bklet) Questinnaires that are cmpleted by the adlescent's parent r caretaker. Questinnaire t assess the adlescent's general emtinal and behaviral functining. General psychlgical testing that is administered t the adlescent. This may include IQ testing and persnality testing. Specific sexual questinnaires r tests that are administered t the adlescent. These tests assess the adlescent's sexual interests, attitudes and behavirs. Risk assessment prcedure. The evaluatr assesses the adlescent's risk fr re-ffending by examining a number f different factrs related t the adlescent's attitudes, behavirs, family factrs, access t ptential victims and current level f supervisin. There are frmal risk assessment prcedures that have been develped based n recidivism research. Plygraph Sme evaluatrs require the client t take a plygraph, r "lie detectr", test as part f the evaluatin. Other evaluatrs may recmmend that a plygraph be used as part f the client's treatment t facilitate the client being cmpletely hnest abut his histry f ffending. Abel Assessment This test assesses ne's sexual interest in different types f sexual stimuli and can determine if a client is sexually interested in yunger children. What infrmatin is btained frm a psychsexual evaluatin? An assessment f the extent and severity f an adlescent's sexual prblem. Recmmendatins fr the type f treatment an adlescent shuld receive t address his sexual prblem. Recmmendatins fr the type f placement an adlescent needs. Fr example, an adlescent's sexual prblem may be t severe fr the adlescent t remain in a hme with yunger children. The adlescent may need t be placed in a hme where there are n yunger children, r he may need mre intensive 3601 SW 2 nd Avenue, Suite Y Gainesville, FL Phne (352) Fax (352)

6 treatment than is available n an utpatient basis. Thus, a specialized residential treatment prgram fr adlescent sex ffenders may be recmmended. Wh typically requests the psychsexual evaluatin f an adlescent? Judges r prbatin fficers frm juvenile curt wh are wrking with adlescents wh have cmmitted a sex ffense. Judges ften rder an adlescent wh has been cnvicted f a sex ffense t receive a psychsexual evaluatin befre the adlescent returns t curt fr his sentencing r dispsitinal hearing. The infrmatin frm the psychsexual evaluatin can help guide the judge in his r her sentencing f the adlescent. This can help the adlescent btain any specialized treatment he may need while minimizing the ptential risk t the cmmunity. DCF casewrkers wh are cncerned abut adlescents wh are acting ut sexually. Other prfessinals wh suspect that an adlescent may have a sexual prblem. Funding agencies wh are trying t assess if an adlescent needs a specialized residential treatment prgram that addresses sexual issues. Mental health agencies that need t assess an adlescent's specific treatment needs. A sex ffender treatment prgram ften requires that a client receive a psychsexual evaluatin befre beginning the treatment prgram. ATSA recmmends that a psychsexual evaluatin be cmpleted befre an ffender is accepted int a cmmunity-based treatment prgram. Parents r caretakers wh are cncerned abut their adlescent's sexual behavir. An adlescent's defense attrney may request a psychsexual evaluatin f his client. Usually, the defense attrney is hping that the evaluatr can recmmend prbatin fr his client if the client's risk fr re-ffending is lw enugh. A defense attrney may als hpe t use a psychsexual evaluatin t help secure a residential treatment placement fr the adlescent rather than incarceratin. Smetimes, defense attrneys request a psychsexual evaluatin in the hpe that the evaluatr can state that the adlescent did nt cmmit the sex ffense in questin. Hwever, evaluatrs can never assess guilt r inncence regarding a sex ffense. There is n psychlgical test that can prve r disprve that a persn cmmitted a sex ffense. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT US SW 2 nd Avenue, Suite Y Gainesville, FL Phne (352) Fax (352)