> Sex offenders are usually expert in manipulation and
> pass the crying contest with flying colors.

In my experience (US), these programs usually have a "graduation" at the end of two or three years. Pedophiles are kicked out before the end of the program, fairly predictably about two weeks before their scheduled finish. This addresses the SOT belief that pedophiles will inevitably reoffend and tarnish their programs. Since "victim empathy" is the holy grail, and one only "moves" to that plane of consciousness at the end of the SOT program, it is a typical choice as a reason to dismiss pedophiles from these programs.

Crocodile tears usually bring the pedophile accusations of being "manipulative". It's kind of a no win situation.

You are completely accurate in many parts of your post. Your description of group therapy dynamics is dead-on.

> I get weird vibes from you, like - for some reason -
> you didn't see behind the curtains what was really going on.

You will think me fascetious, but I am still recovering from the Stockholm Syndrome over it all (i.e. identification with your captors). I had five years of intense, invasive "treatment" including frequent polygraphs. The time commitment to therapy over those five years ranged from twenty to forty hours a week.

It really is the Matrix. I remember the Chinese restaurant I used to eat at - good noodles.

Kevin