Compassion, Research, and “Wilsonisms”: Celebrating Dr. Robin Wilson’s 40 Years in the Field

In this webinar, host David Prescott joins Dr. Wilson to reflect on his remarkable 40-year career and explore the field’s current state and where the future might lead. Join us in honoring Dr. Wilson’s dedication to advancing our understanding of sexual violence. His work has significantly enhanced our knowledge, the creation of safer communities, and the development of more effective rehabilitation strategies around the world.

Free

Enhancing Mental Health Support for LGBTQ+ Youths

Compared to their peers, LGTBQ+ youths experience disproportionate rates of adversity and trauma, including child maltreatment. Well-intended professionals who do not know or understand best practices risk unintentionally perpetuating harm. This webinar serves as a starting point for bridging the knowledge gap and fostering informed discussions.

In this 90-minute session, host David Prescott brings together a panel of mental health providers who either serve LGBTQ+ youths or identify as LGBTQ+ themselves to explore:

Characteristics of allyship within the mental health field
Common challenges faced when providing mental health services to LGBTQ+ youths and their families
Strategies for delivering affirming and inclusive care

Free

What You Need to Know About Online Sexual Offending

The rapidly evolving landscape of online sexual offending presents significant challenges for professionals working to prevent and address abuse. As technology advances at an unprecedented pace, several key trends have emerged, including AI-generated abuse imagery, sophisticated online grooming, and an increase in self-generated sexual content. These developments require a deeper understanding and innovative approaches from psychologists and other professionals involved in addressing this issue.

In this one-hour webinar, Dr. Seto speaks about the main points that he has learned in researching online sexual offending, including:
- Current types of online offending
- How online offending has changed in recent years
- Characteristics of those who offend online
- Implications for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers

Free

Sex Positivity and Inclusivity: Transforming Treatment for People Who Have Sexually Abused

During this 90-minute webinar, a panel of nationally recognized experts explores the principles of sex positivity and inclusivity in therapeutic contexts, advocating for a non-judgmental attitude toward mutually consenting sexual activities.

This discussion:
- Underscores the need for an individualized assessment and understanding of each client.
- Explores how and why a purely abstinence-based approach to the management of sexual urges and impulses is less likely to be effective.
- Provides an open dialogue about how “taboo” or “deviant” topics, paired with education and normalization, can help patients address and manage their risks more effectively.

By promoting sex positivity and inclusivity, clinicians can work towards reducing stigma and shame while still addressing potentially risky behaviors. In fact, the principles upheld by the kink community—communication, safety, and consent—offer valuable insights that can enhance these therapeutic interventions.

Free

The Influence of Race on Detected and Undetected Sexual Offending

How much do we know about undetected sexual offending? This question remains a critical concern for practitioners, courts, and policymakers alike. In this webinar, Dr. Kelley and Dr. Zaw discuss their recent study on the influence of race on detected and undetected sexual offenses among individuals deemed to be at high risk of re-offense. Their research compares White and Black adult males, revealing significant findings pertinent to understanding the actual prevalence of sexual offenses. This study is relevant to those seeking to understand the true rate of sexual offending and its implications for justice and policy development.

Dr. Kelley and Dr. Zaw’s study is the second of a series aimed at understanding how to best account for undetected sexual offending—those that could have led to a criminal charge or conviction if detected—in risk assessments. Their earlier research findings led them to ask what could affect the detection rate, with racial differences being a focus. While existing studies and publications highlight disparities in victim reporting rates, policing practices, and judicial system responses for White versus Black men, questions remain about the differences in crimes, motivations, detection rates, and potential biases throughout the process.

Dr. Kelley and Dr. Zaw’s findings are as complex as they are helpful. Their discussion focuses on areas that include antisocial processes and offense-related sexual interests. After presenting their study and findings, they explore the implications for risk assessments and evaluators, offering valuable perspectives for professionals in the field.

Free

Understanding the Challenges Resulting from Pedophilia Diagnoses

Many experts have suggested that pedophilia and pedophilic disorder are poorly differentiated by the DSM-5-TR. This is partly supported by three independent studies showing that a diagnosis of pedophilia does not predict sexual offending against children. The stakes are high: Without diagnostic clarity, we can fail to intervene appropriately, thereby perpetuating risk to children. We can also cause harm to the wrong people by mislabeling them.

Ensuring the safety of our communities and the protection of children is a shared priority. However, we have a long way to go in ensuring best practices in diagnostic procedures. In this webinar, researcher and evaluator Robin J. Wilson joins David Prescott to discuss the challenges that professionals and clients face with this diagnosis.

Free