The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment program has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Sexual Behavior Problems in Children, Treatment of, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

• Types of Maltreatment: Does not target any specific kind of maltreatment
• Target Population: Children aged 7-12 years who have sexual behavior problems and their parent(s)/caretakers

This program is designed especially for professionals who work with school-age children exhibiting sexual behaviors problems. The program provides insights and intervention strategies. Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment is designed to help and heal child and family using a full array of activities to help foster key life skills such as safety planning, relationship skills, emotional expressive skills and empathy, cognitive coping, and self-regulation.

The goals of Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment are to:

• Reduce a child’s risk to engage in further inappropriate/abusive sexual behaviors.
• Facilitate safety/prevention planning.
• Improve the parent-child relationship.
• Enhance emotional expressive skills and affect regulation.
• Alter cognitive distortions.
• Resolve issues related to past trauma and/or abuse.
• Improve social skills.
• Provide age appropriate psychosexual educations.
• Develop accurate and positive self-perceptions.

Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment recommends intervention using three modalities: individual, family, and group therapy. This treatment framework addresses issues in eight “areas of focus” which include:

• Safety
• Attachment/mobilizing support systems
• Affective regulation
• Cognitive distortions
• Gradual exposure
• Social skills development
• Psychosexual education
• Self-perception/personal identify

Treatment is tailored and directed based on an assessment of the unique characteristics of the child and family. However, safety is proposed to be the most important area of focus.

This treatment framework incorporates elements of Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Trauma-Focused Integrative Eclectic Therapy (IET) developed by William Friedrich. While there is overlap between these two models there are important distinctions which are outlined in the book. The Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment framework integrates these two models to outline treatment in working with latency age children who have engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior problems and their families. Thus, while Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment integrates many aspects of TF-CBT, it is unique in that it does incorporates important elements of IET and focuses primarily on children who have engaged in inappropriate or abusive sexual behaviors.

In addition, the Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment framework has a focus for the parent/caregiver that includes:

• Increasing the frequency of positive interactions between parent(s)/caretakers and children
• Helping parent(s)/caretakers and family members develop more positive perceptions and beliefs regarding their child.
• Helping parent(s)/caretakers provide adequate supervision and structure
• Educating parent(s)/caretakers about the effects of trauma and abuse
• Providing education on normative vs. problematic sexual behaviors
• Educating parent(s)/caretakers on ways to communicate about safety, boundaries, and sexuality
• Helping parent(s)/caretakers develop more effective behavioral management strategies

Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment was designed with a child component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Engaged in inappropriate or abusive sexual behaviors

Age range: 7 – 12

Developmental Delays:

This program was not developed for children with developmental delays, and has not been tested for children with developmental delays.

Treatment Involves Family/Support Structures:

This program involves the family or other support systems in the individual's treatment: Parents/caretakers/family learn how to address safety issues, enhance attachments, mobilize support systems, talk to the child using appropriate terms for body parts, overall parent intensive interventions. The treatment framework does encourage the inclusion of non-offending siblings in various parts of treatment.  The clarification process between victims and family members who have engaged in sexually abusive behaviors is briefly discussed.

Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Have a child who has engaged in inappropriate/abusive sexual behaviors, lack of adequate structure and supervision to reduce the child’s risk for further problems, negative perceptions of child.

Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment was designed to be conducted in a group setting; but has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended group size:

5-10 with two therapists

Recommended Intensity:

In general, 1 hour of individual or family therapy per week in addition to 1 hour of group therapy.

Recommended Duration:

Treatment is not recommended to be time limited when optional. Rather, completion of treatment is based on symptom reduction, behavioral change, and skill acquisition.

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Community Agency
• Day Treatment Program
• Outpatient Clinic

Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment includes a homework component:

Age appropriate homework. Various activities based on lessons learned in sessions.

Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment does not have materials available in a language other than English.

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

Private office, group room, office supplies (paper, markers, crayons, etc) for activities. The book includes a CD which has pre-designed activities.

Clinical license or supervision by clinician. Graduation with Master’s level degree from accredited school. For example, in Utah clinicians can be LCSW or LPC (or CSW to be supervised by LCSW or CPC-I to be supervised by LPC or LCSW).

There is a manual that describes how to implement this program; but there is not training available for this program.

This program has been reviewed and it was determined that this program lacks the type of published, peer-reviewed research that meets the CEBC criteria for a scientific rating of 1 – 5. Therefore, the program has been given the classification of "NR - Not able to be Rated." It was reviewed because it was identified by the topic expert as a program being used in the field, or it is being marketed and/or used in California with children receiving services from child welfare or related systems and their parents/caregivers. Some programs that are not rated may have published, peer-reviewed research that does not meet the above stated criteria or may have eligible studies that have not yet been published in the peer-reviewed literature. For more information on the "NR - Not able to be Rated" classification, please see the Scientific Rating Scale.

Child Welfare Outcomes: Not Specified

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Interventions for Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Research, Theory and Treatment.