Continuing Education Center

Many who work in the criminal justice system quickly discover its shortcomings, from its cost to its questionable effects on recidivism. The data have been clear for decades that we can, and should, do better. Making matters worse, the criminal justice system is infamous for its failure to serve those who have been harmed by abuse. All too often, our treatment programs fail to address the needs of those most harmed by our clients.

Dr. Judith Herman has dedicated her life to helping women recover from trauma. Her first book, Father-Daughter Incest, broke new ground in recognizing abuse. Trauma and Recovery, Herman’s second book, remains a respected text three decades after its publication. Now, her latest work, Truth and Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice, shines a light on the many ways we can improve our services in accordance with what survivors need.

In this webinar, she discusses the results of her research and practice across many decades. It has involved listening deeply to survivors and understanding their core needs for acknowledgment of the abuse, accountability, apology, and amends. Dr. Herman also discusses the strengths and limitations of current responses to abuse, such as restorative justice and treatment programs for those who commit acts of violence.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a future-focused, goal-directed treatment method. Unlike approaches that focus on the issues that brought clients to seek therapy, SFBT concentrates on leveraging the client’s strengths to cultivate solutions. Similarly, Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, empathetic technique that has most recently been defined as “a particular way of talking with people about change and growth to strengthen their own motivation and commitment." Both SFBT and MI represent a shift in the field—a movement towards harnessing the power of the client’s own resources and aspirations to facilitate meaningful and lasting change. Research has shown that professionals can effectively integrate these two approaches to provide a more comprehensive, client-centered, and strengths-based approach to supporting clients in their change process. But how exactly is this integration achieved in practice?

In this hour-long webinar conversation, Dee-Dee Stout offers a brief overview of how MI and SFBT can be integrated by professionals into a strategy for ensuring the most lasting change among clients in the shortest amount of time. Dee-Dee expertly addresses key considerations, such as the therapist’s role, the focus of the conversation, and the strategic use of scaling questions. Her insights equip attendees with a basic understanding of the approach and how it can be tailored to diverse clinical settings and populations.

In this webinar, host David Prescott leads a discussion with expert Linda Valenta regarding her innovative approach to addressing sibling sexual abuse. Her approach centers on fostering accountability, enhancing communication, and facilitating reparation through the joint therapy process. This method, introduced early in treatment, involves both the sibling who perpetrated the abuse and the sibling who was victimized.

Linda uses the images, words, and stories of the children and families that she has supported to help convey her methodology. Through these elements, she not only introduces participants to a diverse range of therapeutic interventions but also offers a unique opportunity to explore the issues that emerge when working with family members following instances of sibling sexual abuse.

Decades of research have consistently refuted the misconception that adolescents have a high rate of sexual re-offending throughout their lives. Join professor and researcher Dr. Patrick Lussier and host David Prescott as they discuss the disconnect between societal beliefs and reality on this topic. Questions to be explored include: What is the true rate of sexual re-offending by youths, and how much does it really change over time? What factors have influenced these changes in re-offense by adolescents? What are the contexts in which sexual abuse has been studied?

Analyzing data spanning 80 years has led Dr. Lussier and his colleagues to study trends and consider how society has perceived these young people over time. Dr. Lussier points out that scientific literature is dense, fragmented, confusing, and often contradictory. It often relies on a few individual studies and a small number of influential researchers, posing challenges for evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation in this critical area.

Working with family and other caregivers after sexual abuse has occurred entails navigating significant challenges. Professionals in this field, despite being invaluable, often go without due recognition. Sexual abuse by siblings, commonly seen in our field, underscores the need for comprehensive guidance for facilitating resolution and supporting families in their journey toward reconciliation and recovery—a resource that is often in short supply.

To the dedicated professionals supporting individuals who perpetrate abuse and encounter cases of sibling sexual abuse, we see you. We recognize the challenges you navigate with limited resources.

Join us for an upcoming Our Safe Haven session, where Linda Valenta joins David Prescott from Australia to discuss the challenges inherent in this line of work. Engage in open discussions, offer support, and be supported!

Have you ever encountered a client who seems impossible to reach? The one you struggle to establish a connection with? Perhaps you tried to get some consultation only to be met with vague responses like, try a motivational approach,” leaving you feeling judged and in need of your own inspiration.

Join us for these Our Safe Haven sessions, where we delve into the stresses and solutions of navigating such challenging situations. Engage in open discussions, offer support, and be supported! Hosts Katie and David—seasoned professionals in the field—empathize with the hurdles you face and are here to guide you through.