Juvenile sex offenders are a challenging population and require treatment designed to address and work through factors relating to their sexual offending behaviors, often requiring a research-based treatment program. Art therapy is one treatment module that is effective when working with juvenile sex offenders. In the following, the author compares experiences from her art therapy internship and Galley's (2007) research-based program. This paper includes a review of pertinent literature and an examination of Galley's (2007) treatment program and art therapy treatment options in particular.

This text introduces clinicians to the challenging task of performing mental health evaluations for youth who have committed sexual offenses or have engaged in sexually abusive behavior.

A graduate art therapy intern conducted individual art therapy sessions in a group home for male adolescent sex offenders in Latrobe, PA. This paper highlights work with two clients who effectively utilized image and language metaphors within the sessions to work through difficult issues. A review of related literature examines the use of metaphor in art therapy. The intern's personal reactions to working with the clients are discussed. Reproductions of client artwork are included.

A resource for arts therapists and other clinicians on working with people who have committed sexual offences. There is a strong focus on the value of establishing a therapeutic relationship involving non-verbal media as a cornerstone, drawing upon current research and practice. Emphasis is placed on working with transference and counter-transference, being trauma-informed, and making use of effective supervision. This group of offenders can benefit hugely from the provision of arts therapies, and this book provides valuable experiences of working with people who have committed sexual offences.

A significant percentage of sexual abuse in the United States is committed by juveniles, and mental health professionals increasingly receive requests to evaluate these juveniles. With an emphasis on practicality and utility, Juvenile Sex Offenders fills a gap in the current literature by providing a thoughtful, thorough approach to evaluating and treating youth who have committed sexual offenses or have engaged in sexually abusive behavior. Serving as a functional guide, this text expertly prepares clinicians for the challenging task of evaluating juveniles, picking up where traditional clinical training often falls short and providing state-of-the-art assessment techniques as well as an overview of treatment modalities. Chapters highlight the many ways in which juveniles charged with sexual offenses differ from adults, the common dilemmas facing evaluators, and the changing perceptions and legal trends with respect to youth crime. Chapters also cover sexual development and behaviors among children and adolescents, risk factors and risk assessment, case examples for working with attorneys, and interventions and pharmacological approaches. Clinical practitioners with limited forensic training will benefit from the guidance on formal forensic evaluation and the review of literature on assessment approaches specific to youth, while forensic experts will gain developmental perspective in evaluating and treating young sexual offenders. Set in a hopeful and optimistic framework, Juvenile Sex Offenders is a practical, empirically based guide on the best practices in evaluating and treating this poorly understood and underserved population.