Louis Brunet

A Plan Analysis of Pedophile Sexual Abusers’ Motivations for Treatment: A Qualitative Pilot Study

Many authors have suggested adapting treatment programs to the specific needs of sexual abusers. However, little research has been conducted to understand what these patients seek in therapy or what elements play a key role in keeping them in treatment. In this pilot study, fifteen (N = 15) pedophile sexual abusers from La Macaza clinic for sexual abusers were interviewed. Plan analysis was used to investigate the most prevalent components involved in staying in or leaving therapy. Results suggest that many components involved in the plans leading to doing and to avoiding treatment were similar. Differences were found in regards to the outcome of confrontations with the therapists, a tendency to isolate and overcomply, guilt related to the abuse, a need for a stable environment, and a need to be accepted. These results are discussed along with possible ways to improve the patients’ involvement in treatment.

When the Goals of Therapists and Patients Clash: A Study of Pedophiles in Treatment.

Abstract This article first reports the main results and conclusions from a study on 24 pedophile sex abusers in treatment in a Canadian specialized institution. The aims of this study were to better understand what motivates abusers to enter treatment as well as how they experience the treatment on a daily basis and consider it to be helpful. In investigating the dynamics of the treatment program, it appeared that the patients gave much care to the interpersonal aspects of the treatment, particularly with the therapists. These results are discussed using psychodynamic theories. Finally, the results are also discussed in the light of recent empirical findings in psychotherapy process research. It is suggested that the abuser is not a passive recipient of the therapists technique but rather is proactive, having very often a different therapy agenda then the therapist.

Alloying the Gold of Psychoanalysis with the Copper of Suggestion: From Suggestion to Transference Interpretation

The first part of this commentary discusses from a psychoanalytic perspective some of the arguments presented in Raz & Wolfson’s Target Article. The second part of the commentary focuses more precisely on a paradox associated with the notion of suggestion as used in the article when seen from a psychoanalytic perspective—in particular, in relation to the shift in Freud’s interest from suggestion to unconscious psychic processes. Ideas for further research are then presented.