Stages of Accomplishment: Digital Clinicians' Guide
Digital Clinician's Guide
by Phil Rich

The Clinician’s Manual helps guide therapists in their use of the Stages of Accomplishment workbooks. In addition to a detailed summary of each workbook, the author provides insight into how clinicians can best use the workbooks as part of a larger program of and approach to treatment. Each workbook contains many Thinking Exercises, Key Concept reviews, Case Studies, and other types of "homework" for clients, and in this guide the author discusses how to integrate the content and exercises into the clinician's own treatment approach and other treatment materials.

The Stages of Accomplishment workbook series is a tool designed to help clinicians guide young people with problematic sexual behaviors. This four-stage workbook set provides a structured, comprehensive approach to treatment, addressing the complex issues surrounding sexually abusive behavior while fostering personal growth and positive change.

Stage 1: Introduction to Treatment

The first workbook lays the foundation for the therapeutic process. It helps clients understand the nature of sexually harmful behavior and the importance of taking responsibility for their actions. Key features include what they can expect in therapy (with an emphasis on strengths-based rehabilitation), an outline of risk and protective factors, and tools to promote self-reflection.

Stage 2: Understanding Yourself

Building on ideas developed in Stage 1, this workbook focuses on developing self-awareness and insight. Using “Thinking Points”, “Key Concepts”, and real-life scenarios, clients learn to identify and address cognitive distortions, or “thinking errors.” A key focus in on understanding how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence one another.

Stage 3: Understanding Dysfunctional Behavior

The stage three workbook addresses events leading up to dysfunctional behavior and the skills clients can use to prevent the expression of sexually abusive behaviors. This includes a clear understanding of:

• Dysfunctional behavioral cycles: how they work and how to interrupt them before the unwanted behavior occurs
• Triggers: how to recognize and interrupting triggers that lead to dysfunctional behavior
• Safe Behavior Plan: what they are and how to create one

Stage 4: Creating Permanent Changes in Their Lives

The final workbook in the series focuses on implementing changes and transforming goals into a Success Plan. It covers strategies to restore and rebuild relationships, how to make amends and cultivate empathy, how to create healthy relationships, and how contributing positively to the community can create a positive life for all.

The Value of the Stages of Accomplishment Series

The four workbooks can serve multiple functions for therapists: as topics for discussion during therapy, as homework for clients between sessions, and, in the “Staff Review” sections of the workbooks, a means of informing and coordinating clinicians working in team environments.

The workbooks are authored by Phil Rich, Ed.D, LICSW, a social worker for over 40 years with vast experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults with sexually abusive or sexually troubled behavior.

We believe these workbooks will be an essential resource for your practice.