*Juvenile Sex Offenders

Abstract

The Male Adolescent Program for Positive Sexuality (MAPPS) is involved in the assessment and treatment, both individual and group, of adolescent sex offenders throughout Victoria (Australia). MAPPS clients comprise a heterogeneous group in relation to type of offence, backgrounds, denial, and individual development. To achieve a match between the adolescent and the stage of the "change process " he is in, the program is separated into two groups, basic and advanced. The move to the advanced group involves shifting from identifying patterns of offending to accepting or controlling the feelings associated with offending, including processing the affective states of their victims. Because this is a difficult step for some clients to make, a 4-day adventure therapy program was developed to facilitate the transition by celebrating client achievements to date, engaging clients through a challenging experience, and fostering their ability to cope with intense emotional experiences. Since the nature of adventure therapy makes i