Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Judia Y. Malachi

Abstract

Debate exists that supports the integration of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) within risk-needs-responsivity (RNR) in treatment when managing the behaviors in diagnosed sex-offending psychopaths. Although sex offending psychopaths are challenging, they are not immune to managing their behavior and maintaining a positive lifestyle and they can benefit if they can be retained in treatment. Guided by the cognitive behavioral theory, the purpose of this study was to examine how therapists manage the behaviors of diagnosed sex-offending psychopaths when integrating CBT within RNR. Therapists in practice who integrate CBT within RNR with sex offending psychopaths, answered questions about several aspects of CBT within RNR, such as the integration of CBT within RNR in treatment of diagnosed sex-offending psychopaths in managing the behaviors, challenges when designing treatment modalities, the challenges of designing treatment modalities, cognitive behavioral techniques to change the cognitive distortions and maladaptive beliefs in sex offenders, borderline personality disorder techniques, and techniques to address the deviant sexual arousal. The interviews were coded using NVivo, looking for repeated patterns of meanings and themes across responses. CBT coupled within RNR have shown to soften the stance of therapeutic pessimism in that sex-offending psychopaths could benefit if they are retained in an evidence-informed treatment program. This study furthers social change by supporting the rationale for CBT within RNR in treatment: to provide corrective interventions in managing the behaviors of diagnosed sex-offending psychopaths, thereby improving the safety of communities.

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