Empathy is a crucial component of the evolving masculine paradigm, which recognizes that men can be nurturing, caring, and in touch with their emotions without diminishing their masculinity.

Across society, too many men struggle with showing empathy and report having very few meaningful relationships in their lives. Particularly, men in the criminal justice system often find it difficult to connect with their emotions, perceiving it as a sign of weakness. Many of these individuals have faced significant adversity growing up. It is no surprise, then, that men struggle to experience and express empathy towards others. However, treatment programs often demand that these men be able to demonstrate empathic capacity, despite the obstacles they have faced in developing and expressing it.

Improve your case management of adults convicted of sexual crimes by implementing the principles of risk, need, and responsivity (RNR) and trauma-informed care (TIC). Jurisdictions in many countries have implemented supervision strategies that align with the principles of effective correctional rehabilitation. However, due to public scrutiny, it is not always clear how to effectively apply RNR to supervision decisions or how to incorporate RNR and TIC into practices that are primarily aimed at reducing the risk of re-offense. This online training addresses how to effectively integrate RNR, TIC, and risk reduction practices.

In October 2023, the American Psychological Association (APA) released the second edition of its Inclusive Language Guide. In support of cultural inclusivity, it outlines the differences between person-first and identity-first language and challenges all professionals to consider how they use respectful and culturally sensitive language with their clients and in communications about their clients.

Person-first and identity-first language are important because they can have a significant impact on how individuals are perceived and treated. For example, the Inclusive Language Guide recommends avoiding the use of stigmatizing language when referring to individuals involved in the criminal justice system. Instead of using the words “criminal” or “offender,” we should instead use more neutral language. This can include “person with a history of involvement in the criminal justice system.” The recommendations in the guide aim to promote inclusivity and respect for all individuals, regardless of their history.

Using the Good Lives Model, the Becoming the Man I Want to Be workbook was written to be engaging for clients whose adverse childhood experiences and problem behaviors have caused them to fall behind academically, socially, and interpersonally throughout their lives. After attending this training, participants will better understand how to use the workbook in treatment. The training begins by reviewing the core principles of the GLM and then offers ideas for how clinicians and counselors can use each section of the workbook—in particular, the chapters that are new to the second edition. Central to this training is its focus on dovetailing the GLM and the workbook with Motivational Interviewing skills and the principles of Trauma-Informed Care.