Exploring therapeutic bias towards adolescent non-offending minor attracted people using a mixed methods approach: "We experience fear too!”

This research demonstrates a commitment to preventing Child Sexual Abuse, supporting Non-Offending Minor Attracted People (Non-Offending MAPs) in managing their attractions lawfully, promoting ethical scholarship, reducing stigma, and fostering psychological safety among professionals. This research does not endorse identity politics for Non-Offending MAPs but advocates for nuanced, harm-reduction therapy that prioritises both public safety and human dignity. There is widespread misinformation conflating child sex abuse with Non-Offending MAPs, resulting in stigmatisation and societal distancing. Non-Offending MAPs are sexually attracted to children but suppress their attraction. Due to societal stigma, Non-Offending MAPs often struggle to seek or receive therapy, which in a professional context may manifest as therapeutic bias. Research on adolescent Non-Offending MAPs is limited, and adolescence is typically the age when sexual attraction first appears. Adolescents represent a vulnerable population in mental health care as they are navigating rapid developmental changes, whilst often starting therapy at the directive of adults. Despite needing early intervention, therapeutic engagement with adolescent Non-Offending MAPs may be shaped by therapeutic biases and risk-focused therapy that compromise the therapeutic alliance and limit treatment effectiveness. A mixed-method approach explores therapeutic bias in relation to adolescent Non-Offending MAPs. The quantitative phase analysed data using a 2 (Condition: Humanisation Video Training Vs Control- between groups) X 2 (Client Type Vignette: Humanisation Adolescent vs. Non-humanised) X 2 (Time: Pre vs. Post stigma scores: within groups examining the three Stigma Inventory Scale factors: Cognitive Beliefs, Affective Reaction and Social Distancing). Additionally, the analysis included the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy (QCAE), measuring Total Empathy scores and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRISC), measuring Total Resilience, as fixed covariates. The qualitative Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) phase involved semi-structured interviews with four therapists to explore their experiences working with Adolescent Non-Offending MAPs. Pre and Post Stigma Cognitive Belief scores and the training group were statistically significant. Covariate analyses found that Total Empathy was significantly associated with Stigma Affective Reaction. Total Resilience was significantly associated with Stigma Affective. Total Empathy scores significantly influenced Stigma Social Distancing scores. From the IPA, five superordinate themes were identified: Stigma and Societal Narratives, Constructing Non-Offending MAPs' Identity, Therapeutic Engagement and Boundaries, Therapist Factors - Emotional Impact of Working with Adolescent Non-Offending MAPs, and Systemic Barriers and Professional Issues. The findings highlight that a humanisation intervention reduced Stigma Cognitive Belief Scores. Additionally, covariate analyses highlighted the role of resilience and empathy in stigma reduction in Social Distancing and Affective Reaction. The qualitative findings suggest that therapists also experience stigma and how stigma is embedded in the narrative of therapeutic work. Overall, this thesis highlights a need for a therapist stigma bias development framework to support professionals working with adolescent Non-Offending MAPs to recognise and address therapeutic bias to increase resilience and empathy. This study makes a significant contribution to the field of psychology by being the first to explore adolescent Non-Offending MAPs from a therapeutic bias perspective through a critical realist counselling psychology lens.

Citation

Ball, K. (2025) Exploring therapeutic bias towards adolescent non-offending minor attracted people using a mixed methods approach: "We experience fear too!” University of Wolverhampton. https://wlv.openrepository.com/handle/2436/626195

Publisher

University of Wolverhampton

URI

https://wlv.openrepository.com/handle/2436/626195

Type

Thesis or dissertation

Language

en

Description

A Thesis submitted to the University of Wolverhampton Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing. Practitioner Doctorate: Counselling Psychology Award: D. Couns. Psych.

Collections

Theses and Dissertations