Frequently Asked Questions

Does YHA provide clinical services only for sexual behavior problems?

• Conduct Disorder

• Anxiety

• PTSD

• ADHD

• Depression

• Adoption Issues

• Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder

• Impulse Control

• Low Self-Esteem

• Suicidal Ideations

• Self-Harm

• Academic Problems

• Inability to Delay Gratification

Is it true that all children or adolescents with sexual behavior problems have been sexually abused themselves?

No, not all children who abuse have been sexually abused directly. In YHA outpatient programs, as many as half the adolescents have not been sexually abused. Other factors such as ADHD, frequent or unsupervised access to younger children, use of drugs or alcohol, poor social skills, and social alienation can also play a role in the development of sexually inappropriate behavior in children and adolescents who have not necessarily been sexually abused.

Factors such as exposure to pornography, physical abuse, neglect, and poor parental boundaries can also provide motivations that lead to sexual acting out. Sexual abuse experiences are certainly common in children who act out sexually, but there are many children who act out sexually without experiencing direct sexual abuse (Kahn, 2002). If you suspect that some abuse has occurred, it is very important to share that information with your child’s treatment provider.

What causes children and teenagers to be aggressive towards others, destroy property, steal, violate rules, and/or act out sexually?

Research has shown that these types of behaviors can be the result of any number of combinations of family and social learning and developmental, situational, or environmental factors. In other words, children can develop these behavior problems for many different reasons. Physical or sexual abuse, exposure to domestic violence, repressive or overly permissive sexual attitudes, and home instability can all contribute to a child’s use of these types of behaviors as a coping response.

In addition, factors such as poor impulse control, lack of sexual information, social alienation, and low self-esteem can contribute to a child’s or adolescent’s choice to engage in these types of behaviors. Peer pressure and alcohol abuse can sometimes contribute to abusive sexual behaviors such as date rape. Access to pornography can play a key role with younger children who are either sexually naïve or very impulsive (or both).

The quality of supervision and the presence of vulnerable people (that is, potential victims) are also important situation factors. Crowded living conditions and exposure to illicit or illegal activity or images are environmental factors that may contribute to these types of behaviors.

In summary, children and adolescents with these type of behavior problems are a mixed group, and there is no single cause for their problematic behaviors. Anyone of our facilities will exhibit a cross section of society, including good students and below-average students, athletic and non-athletic youths, religious and non-religious clients, and high-functioning and lower functioning children.

In what settings are children and adolescents with significant behavior problems and those with sexual behavior problems treated?

Children who show aggression toward others, destroy property, disregard rules of the home and the law at large, and those with sexual behavior problems can be treated on an outpatient basis if they are in a stable living situation that provides adequate controls and supervision. If a youth’s behavior, sexual or otherwise, is violent, or if the child’s parent or guardian feels unable to control the youth or protect an in-home victim, residential treatment is appropriate. It is important that parents find programs that specialize in working with these problems for children and adolescents.

How successful is YHA’s treatment for children and adolescents with sexual behavior and other significant behavior problems?

Recidivism is the term for reoffending, and the recidivism rate is one measure of how successful a treatment program is. Few studies of children and adolescents in treatment have gone beyond 5 years in researching recidivism. Several studies show reoffense rates as low as 8 to 15 percent over a 5-year period for children and adolescents without a serious history or delinquency or conduct disorder. YHA’s reoffense rates are close to 5 to 10 percent for youth in this same category. For adolescents with pervasive delinquent behavior patterns, as many as 50 percent continue to have problems with delinquent behavior, although it doesn’t always include reoffenses for the behavior that initially required them to receive residential treatment. The good news is that it appears that many children and adolescents with sexual behavior problems do not grow up to continue their sexually abusive behaviors as adult sex offenders. With effective treatment and good supervision, most children and adolescents with these type of behavior problems can remain in their communities and live successful lives.

How is success defined in the treatment of the youth at YHA?

Successful treatment means no additional acts of aggressive or illegal behavior (sexual or otherwise) for the duration of the child’s life. A client’s treatment progress, or lack of progress, is evaluated by looking at whether he or she has achieved certain measurable goals and objectives, is cooperative in treatment, maintains control of and responsibility for his or her own thoughts and actions, changes his or her abuse-supporting patterns of thinking, and makes changes in behavior that therapists and parents or guardians can see over time

The client is showing progress when he or she:

• Accepts responsibility for the inappropriate or illegal behavior without denying that he or she did it, minimizing any part of the behavior, or blaming the victim, the system, or anyone else.

• Shows by his or her behavior that he or she is working toward treatment goals.

• Shows that he or she can identify the factors that contribute to his or her abusive pattern.

• Makes positive changes in these contributing factors or is working on resolving these issues.

• Learns how his or her behavior hurt the victims (empathy) and demonstrates empathy in thinking about the effects of his or her actions on others.

• Can handle emotional stress in non-hurtful ways and has learned how to change negative feelings.

• Has learned to feel better about himself or herself.

• Reports fantasies and interactions that show responsible, consenting sexuality involving same-age partners.

• Gets involved in positive, nonsexual social activities with other adolescents who are positive role models (for example, teens who have good study and work habits, can have fun without drinking or taking drugs, and are not involved in any criminal activities).

• Has good relationships and interactions with family members.

• Is open and sharing when looking at his or her own thoughts, fantasies, and behaviors.

• Can reduce and control his or her sexual arousal and/or anger toward potential victims in fantasies or in social or family situations.

• Has fewer fantasies involving victims and nonconsenting sex and at the same time has built up more fantasies that involve health, nonabusive, consenting sexual relationships with partners of a similar age and ability.

• Can understand and reason against his or her own irrational thinking (thinking errors) and that of others.

• Is able to interrupt his or her abusive pattern or cycle and get help when a destructive or risky behavior pattern begins.

• Can speak up for himself or herself in an assertive way and communicate feelings and thoughts to others.

• Has done some emotional work to resolve any issues about being a victim of abuse in the past or experiencing a death or separation among family members or close friends.

• Can experience pleasure in normal activities.

• Can understand and communicate the new behavior patterns her or she is learning in treatment and transfer them to behavior in the home and community.

• Has helped family (or support team) members learn to recognize the risk factors that lead up to his or her problems and how to aid him or her in managing them differently or getting help.

How long does treatment last?

It depends to a large extent on how long your child’s behavior problems have been occurring, how ingrained and compulsive the behavior is, and how intensive the treatment program is. When parents and guardians are supportive, involved in treatment, and committed to providing appropriate supervision for their child, it helps expedite the process. As a general rule, 12 months is a reasonable average for inpatient therapy; 9 months would be considered the absolute minimum. Some adolescents with long histories of significant behavior problems may require more time in the program.

You can encourage your child to take responsibility for his or her own treatment. Tell him or her that how long treatment will last depends to a large extent on how hard he or she works in therapy, the quality of his or her homework assignments, the level of participation in group and individual sessions, and his or her willingness and ability to apply what is being learned in treatment to situations in daily life.

What if my child denies doing any of the behaviors that he or she is accused of?

First, don’t be surprised. Most children and adolescents deny the full extent of their sexual behavior initially, especially when talking with their parents. In time, with counseling and support for telling the truth, most clients make gradual progress toward disclosing the full extent of their abusive behavior. The best thing you can do is listen carefully to your child’s story, note any inconsistencies, and reassure your child and if his or her story at a later date, it is okay to tell you. Never support your child’s denial by agreeing that he or she could not have engaged in the misbehaviors. Even if you have your own doubts about what happened, be neutral and open to the possibility that anything may have happened, and avoid showing support for or belief in your child’s explanations or excuses.

What if my child’s behavior isn’t as bad as that of other children or adolescents in the treatment program? Will my child be exposed to even worse behavior, or possibly victimized?

Many parents have a hard time seeing the child they raised from infancy as a sexual offender or a criminal. YHA has strict rules about behavior during group therapy sessions, and most clients participating in outpatient treatment programs are working hard to learn new skills and get their lives under control. Most treatment groups are supportive places where clients can get help on all their life problems.

YHA does not allow victimizing behaviors to take place during treatment, and poor attitudes about sexuality, drugs, crime, and the like are strongly challenged. If you see behavior in the facility or outside of the facility that concerns you, discuss it with your child’s therapist so that appropriate action can be taken.

Referral Contact:

Brian Garlock

801.628.6160

brian@yhautah.com