Psychological Intervention with Adolescents with Sexual Behavior Problems

This chapter presents the PBX Program, an up-to-date psychotherapeutic intervention designed to work with adolescents who have engaged in sexually abusive behavior. It is a psychological intervention that aims to prevent recidivism and can be used in a forensic context, in mental health clinics or in the community, requiring specialized training for its use. The program is carried out on an individual basis and intervenes with adolescents and young adults between the ages of 13 and 21 who have committed sexual crimes, using the period of their sentence (within the juvenile detention center or in the community) to promote the desired behavioral change. This intervention model seeks to “strengthen the skills” (in contrast to a “deficit” approach) that the individual already possesses or will acquire for future integration into society. The intervention is based on up-to-date theoretical models (e.g. Risk/Need/Responsivity, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and the Good-Lives model). Studies have been carried out on the effectiveness of the program and the analysis of the process of behavioral change. The results of these studies show significant improvements, particularly in changing attitudes and behaviors related to sexual abuse.