Enhancing evidence-based treatment of child sexual abuse material offenders: The development of the CEM-COPE Program
The AIC has released a paper describing the development of the CEM-COPE (Coping with Child Exploitation Material Use) Program, a pilot program that aims to reduce reoffending among convicted child sexual abuse material (CSAM) offenders. The CEM-COPE Program builds upon existing CSAM treatment research, programs, and evaluation outcomes by providing intervention that targets the likely criminogenic needs of CSAM offenders. The development of the CEM-COPE was informed by a thorough review of literature and relevant treatment manuals, and the contributions of an expert consortium of leading international and national clinicians and/or researchers in the fields of CSAM offending, sexual offending, and forensic intervention.
The overarching objective of the CEM-COPE program is to reduce the risk of future CSAM offending by supporting group members to:
- gain an understanding of why and how they offended to identify avenues for intervention and skill development;
- build psychological skills and reinforce existing strengths to support desistance, including cognitive skills, general coping skills, emotional awareness and regulation skills, sexual regulation skills, and relational awareness and communication skills; and
- develop self-management plans based on their learnings throughout the program, including the identification of any ongoing offence-specific or broader psychological treatment needs.
The program draws on concepts and techniques from a range of evidence-based psychological treatment modalities, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy.
The report is available for free download on the AIC website: https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi607
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