A need for “good eyes”: Experiences told by patients diagnosed with psychosis

This study highlights experiences of psychiatric care described by patients diagnosed with psychosis. The aim was to investigate how patients, based on earlier experiences, described their wishes and needs regarding the psychiatric care system. Data comprised material from four focus groups; analysis used an inductive thematic approach. Relationships with staff emerged as a recurring theme. During periods of psychosis, patients needed staff to act as “parental figures,” providing care, safety, and help in dealing with overwhelming stimulation from the outside word. In the ensuing struggle to devise a livable life, the need for relationships recurred. In this phase, staff needed to give their time, provide support through information, and mirror the patient's capacity and hope. The patient's trials were described as threatened by a lack of continuity and non-listening professionals. It was important for staff to listen and understand, and to see and respect the patients' viewpoints

“It’s not something I chose you know”: making sense of pedophiles’ sexual interest in children and the impact on their psychosexual identity

Sexual interest in children is one of the most strongly predictive of the known risk factors for sexual reconviction. It is an important aspect of risk assessment to identify the presence of such interest, and an important task for treatment providers to address such a sexual interest where it is present. It has been argued that understanding pedophiles’ deviant sexual interest in children can enhance risk assessment, management, and treatment planning. This research study aims to explore the phenomenology of deviant sexual interest in children, the impact it has on pedophilic offenders’ identities, and their views on the treatability of that interest. The study used semistructured interviews and repertory grids to make sense of participants’ experiences. The results revealed three superordinate themes: “‘living’ with a deviant sexual interest,” “relational sexual self,” and “possible and feared sexual self.” The analysis unpacks these themes and repertory grid analysis is used to explore a subset of participants’ identities in more detail. The results reveal that there needs to be an acceptance from both client and therapist that their sexual interest in children may never go away. Through this acceptance, clients could work on enhancing sexual self-regulation, recognizing their triggers, and so managing their sexual thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Implications for treatment are also discussed

Balancing justice and welfare needs in family group conferences for children with harmful sexual behaviour : the HSB-FGC framework

In England and Wales, family group conferences (FGCs) are most often found either in the field of youth justice or in the field of child protection, and consequently often have priorities in line with either one of the two systems. On the one hand, FGCs are a restorative justice tool to address offending behavior and hold young perpetrators to account, whilst giving victims the possibility of contributing to the justice process. On the other hand, FGCs address safeguarding concerns and are used to plan for child safety and protection. In cases where a young person has sexually harmed another young person, that is has perpetrated harmful sexual behavior (HSB), all young people involved will have both justice and welfare needs. FGCs are emerging as promising mechanisms in such cases, not only because of their ability to deal with both sets of needs for both young people, but because of their potential to address more holistic needs. However, HSB cases are often complex and sensitive, and are not without risk. Drawing on their experiences in research and practice, the authors explore how the holistic needs of both the harmed and harming individual can be balanced within a risk managed HSB-FGC framework. Keywords: Family group conference, harmful sexual behavior, justice needs, sexual abuse, welfar