The Sex Offender Solutions (S.O.S.) Program:
Sex-Offender-Specific Treatment

About the Program

The primary goal of the S.O.S. Program is to provide a higher level of community protection by assisting individuals who have engaged in illegal or deviant sexual behavior. Clients are trained to modify, control, and monitor their inappropriate sexual behavior to avoid future acting out. This program provides clinical services for adult, adolescent, and developmentally delayed offenders, as well as for victims and the victims' families.

Course of Treatment

The S.O.S. Program consists of a three-phase process that moves the client through initial assessment to maintenance. The client must commit to a minimum of two years in treatment; however, due to the nature of the issues related to sexual offending, the length of treatment is often longer. Each individual's treatment progress is assessed regularly by the S.O.S. treatment team and decisions about his or her treatment plan are based upon the team's recommendations. Release from S.O.S. is based on reaching therapeutic goals, not on the length of time in treatment.

Phase I of treatment at S.O.S. consists of two steps. First, the client begins with a thorough and comprehensive battery of psychological and psychophysiological testing to assess psycho/sexual adjustment. Psychophysiological testing includes the use of the Abel Assessment for sexual interest, penile plethysmography, and clinical polygraphy. Clients must agree to participate in all requested testing before entering into the S.O.S. Program. For individuals who deny their offense, or if we believe they are not being entirely open, a polygraph examination may be required at the outset. The S.O.S. Program does not accept clients who continue to deny after the assessment process that they have participated in any inappropriate sexual behavior.

Testing is followed by a clinical intake interview where testing results are reviewed with the client, more information is gathered, and the preliminary treatment plan is established. At this point, significant others are encouraged to participate in a session with the client so that we might provide support for them, review the course of treatment, and help educate them. Sessions with significant others also assist the S.O.S. treatment team in establishing additional, specific treatment goals for the client.

The second step in Phase I is placement into our Educational Labs. Educational Labs are weekly psychoeducational group sessions that train the client in relapse prevention and behavior modification techniques. The goal is to help the client to acquire tools and skills for self-management and self-control to reduce the risk of reoffense.

In Phase II the client demonstrates and practices the application of the management tools and skills obtained from the Educational Labs in a process group. He is encouraged to address the underlying issues of his inappropriate sexual behavior, such as poor communication skills, low self-esteem, his own abuse, or intimacy deficits. This is conducted in a group therapy format where other members challenge and support the client to help him live a more balanced lifestyle consistent with a low-risk of recidivism. These group sessions meet on a weekly basis. Clients may also participate in adjunct services including individual, couples, and family counseling.

Phase III is the maintenance phase of treatment. Maintenance groups are for clients who have gained insight and have implemented the necessary changes to lower their risk of reoffense. These clients are in need of less intensive treatment and live relatively balanced lifestyles. The goal is to gradually transition clients to fewer external controls and greater internal self-management. There are two types of maintenance groups, every other week and monthly.

Contact with Other Persons/Agencies

For clients who are referred by the Court, the Probation Department, Social Services, a private attorney, etc., it is generally requested by these agencies and individuals that information be released to those parties concerning the client's progress in treatment. We encourage open communication with other agencies or individuals who have a vested interest in helping to manage the client in the community. We utilize the "Containment Approach" which is considered best practices in the field of sex offender supervision and treatment. Therefore, S.O.S. clients are required to sign a Release of Information to permit communication with other significant individuals or agencies. Confidentiality is not broken without the client's consent.