The Evaluation of a Training Programme in Rape Crisis Intervention for Lay Therapists

Abstract

A training programme in rape crisis intervention for lay therapists (members of Rape Crisis in Cape Town) is described and evaluated. Apart from this experimental group ( N = 8), there were two control groups: one consisting of members of Rape Crisis who did not attend the programme ( N = 9) and the other consisting of people who were not members of Rape Crisis and had not attended the programme ( N = 8). Levels of facilitativeness (FAC) and action orientatedness (ACT) that subjects were able to offer before and after the programme were assessed, using a modification of the instrument developed by Carkhuff. The levels of FAC that subjects were able to offer were not affected by the programme. Members of Rape Crisis offered significantly lower levels of FAC than those subjects who were not members of Rape Crisis, both before or after the programme. The programme appeared to increase the levels of ACT that subjects were able to offer. Theoretical and practical explanations for, and implications of, these results are examined.