A Preliminary Evaluation of the Reflecting On Relationships Intervention: A Novel Treatment Programme to Help Those Who Engage in Stalking-related Behaviours

Well established, accessible interventions to reduce stalking related offending are sparse. Such treatments that are available to individuals who demonstrate these types of risks in UK criminal justice contexts, have benefitted from limited evaluation of their effectiveness. The present study aimed to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the acceptability and experiences of engaging with a novel psychological intervention that aimed to address stalking behaviours, from the perspectives of service users who completed the programme as well as professionals who facilitated it. Semi structured interviews were conducted with seven participants about their experiences of a novel psychological intervention named ‘Reflecting on Relationships’. Three participants were service users who completed the programme and had been referred for treatment through their local police force. Four participants were facilitators who delivered the intervention. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. The analysis yielded a total ten subthemes which were filtered into three interrelated themes: (1) Resistance to Treatment, (2) Progress and Change and (3) Service delivery. Labelling, and limited understanding can provide explanations to initial resistance to treatment from service users. Programme content, focus on individual needs and development of therapeutic relationship were factors that contributed to change in service users’ insight into their offending. Multiple recommendations were identified regarding service delivery of the Reflecting on Relationships programme. The findings support the need for a more thorough evaluation of this intervention to help determine its effectiveness.