It was just a little over a month ago. I was doing a workshop somewhere in the States. My topic? Using formal client feedback to guide and improve the quality and outcome of psychotherapy– our SAMHSA-approved, NREPP listed evidence-based practice.
At the first break, I was approached by one of the attendees. “I’m really enjoying your presentation,” they started, then paused. I could hear a “but” coming.
“And this sounds like it will work with a lot of different kinds of clients…but what about the liars and deniers?”
It’s not the first time I’d been asked this question–the gist of which is, “Can one really trust the feedback given by some clients?”
“We talking about your ex here?” I jokingly asked.
“No,” the person said with a laugh, “You know, like people who aren’t there voluntarily, clients who are mandated, or in the criminal justice system, substance abusers, sex offenders, or all of the above.”
“Funny you should ask,” I replied, “I just finished an interview with one of the leading experts on working with people who sexually abuse. I hope to get a blog up in the next few weeks.”
And here it is…
David Prescott is a Fellow and past president of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, the largest professional organization of its kind in the world. He’s produced 14 books and numerous articles and chapters in the areas of assessing and treating sexual violence and trauma. In the interview below, he talks about the use of FIT with people who sexually abuse–a subject we explore in even greater depth and detail in a chapter we penned together in the eight volume series, The Sex Offender.
Listen in and be sure and leave a comment. It can be fairly challenging material, requiring a shift in mindset and approach–from delivering interventions to developing relationships, gaining compliance to securing engagement, and managing risk to engendering possibilities.
Anyway, I’m interested in your thoughts and experiences.
Meanwhile, registration has just opened for the March 2018 ICCE intensive trainings. Join colleagues from around the world coming together to learn step-by-step, evidence-based strategies for improving engagement and outcome with people of all stripes, backgrounds, and clinical presentations.
Until next time,
Scott
Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.
Director, International Center for Clinical Excellence
Thank you. Important ideas even outside of FIT. We can always use reminders to look at how the “them” discourse thrives, and influences us, around labels associated with “deviant” behaviors. And, this also sheds light on measurement as a collaborative tool.
Very helpful to hear – thank you!
Great post as usual Scott, thanks!
Thank you! I have worked as a therapist in the juvenile corrections field for 9 years now and have learned that these people are MORE honest with me than the clients I have worked with who are not locked up! I may not get the whole story the first time through and the SRS may be all sunny the first time but by the second session they are really being honest with me.