Program Goals

The goals of Pathways Fifth Edition are:

• Reduction in sexually inappropriate or illegal behavior
• Increase in adaptive social behavior
• Increase in overall responsibility in daily life
• Increase in sensitivity to others
• Increase in honesty about sexual feelings and behavior
• Increase in self-esteem and improve social relationships
• Decrease in aggressive behavior

Logic Model

The program representative did not provide information about a Logic Model for Pathways Fifth Edition.

Essential Components

The essential components of Pathways Fifth Edition include:

• Not a treatment program in and of itself
• Designed to serve as one component of an overall treatment program for adolescents with sexual behavior problems
• Stories and exercises designed to complement individual, group, and family therapy
• Psychoeducation about:
• Sexuality
• Legal and illegal sexual behavior
• Nonconsensual sexual contact with peers and younger children.
• Viewing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM)
• Cognitive restructuring, and awareness of thinking errors (cognitive distortions)
• Group therapy with 8-12 adolescents to provide peer-support and guidance
• Support for disclosure of sexual feelings and behavior
• Victim awareness training
• Cognitive-behavioral training in understanding the connection between feelings, thoughts, and behavior, and understanding behavior chains
• Up-to-date technology references
• Focus on building resilience and positive life experiences
• Specific training in arousal reconditioning methods to gain mastery over sexual feelings, including covert sensitization, thought stopping, and other arousal control methods
• Education about:
• Responsible sexual relationships
• Healthy sexuality
• Establishing healthy boundaries
• Yes-means-yes consent
• Communication in sexual relationships
• Training in establishing healthy peer-age relationships
• Guidance in the victim clarification (apology) process, and training in family reunification skills
• Chapter-by-chapter testing to ensure acquisition of skills and knowledge
• The Healthy Living Project (HLP) and its emphasis on building client honesty, responsibility, sensitivity, and integrity, is a prominent feature of every chapter:
• Instructions for building the HLP using a PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation in lieu of a paper scrapbook
• A PowerPoint template for the Healthy Living Project that allows clinicians and clients to collaborate on producing this culminating treatment assignment
• Free downloadable template available to clinicians who purchase Pathways, 5th Edition:
• Can also serve as a tool for engaging the client in telehealth
• Includes a Note to the Counselors from the developer
• Parent companion guide - Healthy Families, A Guide for Parents of Children and Adolescents with Sexual Behavior Problems

Program Delivery

Child/Adolescent Services

Pathways Fifth Edition directly provides services to children/adolescents and addresses the following:

• Sexual behavior problems, including sexual offending, pornography addiction, sexual harassment, and any sexually motivated behavior problem.

Services Involve Family/Support Structures:

This program involves the family or other support systems in the individual's treatment: Many of the exercises in Pathways Fifth Edition require parental involvement, and a companion guide, Healthy Families, A Guide for Parents of Children and Adolescents with Sexual Behavior Problems is also available. The Healthy Families book provides supportive information for parents about the evaluation and treatment process for youth with sexual behavior problems. It also includes a parental involvement section so that parents can follow and participate in their child’s treatment process.

Recommended Intensity:

1.5–hour weekly sessions

Recommended Duration:

12 – 24 months, generally

Delivery Settings

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Outpatient Clinic
• Group or Residential Care

Homework

Pathways Fifth Edition includes a homework component:

Pathways Fifth Edition has regular homework assignments where clients are asked to practice key skills. A daily journaling requirement is also included.

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

Any counseling office

Manuals and Training

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

Usually a Master's degree and specialized training in working with adolescents with sexual behavior problems

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Program Manual(s)

Manual details:

• Kahn, T. J. (2024). Pathways, 5th Edition: Clinician’s guide. Safer Society Press. https://safersociety.org/store/clinicians-guide-pathways-fifth-edition/

Download is free at the above link.

There is a workbook for purchase that is required for every participant:

• Kahn, T. J. (2024). Pathways: A guided workbook for youth beginning treatment (5th ed.). https://safersociety.org/store/pathways-fifth-edition/

Training Information

There is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Timothy Kahn, MSW
  timothykahn@cs.com
  phone: (425) 462-9647

Training Type/Location:

Onsite at request of the agency

Number of days/hours:

Variable, usually 1-2 days

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research

There are currently no published, peer-reviewed research studies on outcomes with the appropriate target population for the topic area(s) in which Pathways Fifth Edition has been reviewed.

Additional References

No reference materials are currently available for Pathways Fifth Edition.