The Fundamentals of Sex Offense-Specific Treatment
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Effective sex offense-specific treatment programs consider their participants’ risk for re-offense, the treatment needs that will mitigate this risk, and each individual client’s ability to respond to treatment. It is now standard practice to assess dynamic risk to improve the overall accuracy of risk assessments. This training will provide vital information about how treatment providers can help their clients understand and address their dynamic risk factors and manage their sexual impulses and arousal.
This training offers practical guidance for using treatment to change dynamic risk factors in ways that can significantly help to reduce risk for future offending. It focuses on developing positive “approach goals” that build protective skills and address deficits. It further explores integrating information from a dynamic risk assessment tool (the Violence Risk Scale: Sexual Offense Version) into treatment planning.
Topics covered include:
- Therapeutic interventions that specifically target relevant dynamic risk factors/treatment needs.
- Applying information from risk assessments in selecting specific therapeutic interventions.
- Providing an empirically informed level of treatment intensity/dosage for each client.
- Review interventions available to clinicians working with clients with problematic sexual behavior.
- Using adjunctive clinical interventions into sexual offense-specific treatment as a means of improving each client’s wellbeing and responsiveness to treatment.
Dr. Ballinger offers practical case examples that demonstrate how therapeutic factors and commonly used sex offense-specific treatment methods are relevant in addressing specific dynamic risk factors. Additionally, he presents practical suggestions for supplementing sex offense-specific treatment with skills-based therapeutic interventions, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy, to address specific responsivity needs in addition to dynamic risk factors. Finally, this training provides information on how clinicians can remain sex-positive (a non-judgmental attitude towards consensual sexual activities) and help clients to manage their sexual impulses and arousal.
This training is part one of a five-part course.
To learn more about the full course on assessing and treating adults who sexually abuse, please click here.
1) Select therapeutic interventions that specifically target relevant dynamic risk factors/treatment needs.
2) Apply information from risk assessments in selecting specific therapeutic interventions.
3) Demonstrate an empirically-informed level of treatment intensity/dosage for each client.
4) Describe a broad range of interventions available to clinicians working with clients with problematic sexual behavior.
5) Integrate effective adjunctive clinical interventions into sex offense specific treatment as a means of improving each client’s wellbeing and responsiveness to treatment.
6) Describe several techniques for helping clients to manage their sexual impulses and arousal.
Audience
This training is primarily for treatment providers and clinicians who work with individuals who have committed sexual offenses. This includes psychologists, therapists, social workers, probation/parole officers, and correctional staff.
Content Level
Disclosure
Continuing Education Approval
American Psychological Association (APA)
Safer Society Foundation, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Safer Society Foundation, Inc. maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Who's Presenting
Bud Ballinger, PhD
Bud Ballinger is a clinical/forensic psychologist and the Director of Treatment Services for NYS Secure Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (New York’s civil confinement program). He has a passion for enhancing therapeutic work with people who have engaged in harmful sexual behavior. Since earning a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Texas Tech University in 2000 he has worked in inpatient, outpatient, correctional, and civil confinement programs providing treatment, supervision, consultation, evaluation, and courtroom testimony. He developed New York’s treatment program for incarcerated people who are likely candidates for civil confinement. He is the president of NYS ATSA and an ATSA Fellow.