A compassionate intervention for individuals with problematic sexual interests: Group and individual outcomes in the UK

Abstract

The present paper discusses one of the first free community-based therapeutic interventions (The Aurora Project) in the UK, for individuals who are distressed by their sexual thoughts and behaviour and/or concerned they are a potential risk to others. The clinical approach to working with this population takes a compassion-focused stance. This paper tracks progress pre-post intervention on various psychological wellbeing measures. Results indicated a statistically significant increase in self-esteem and social safeness, as well as a reduction in internalised shame. Reliable change index analyses indicated clinically significant group improvement in shame and self-esteem. Participants’ fears of compassion were unchanged as a group. Individual-level analyses of change are presented. Limitations of the study and implications for research and practice are then discussed.