This is the third module in this mini course, which takes a deep dive into the heart of compassionate communication. Research has found that the way clients talk about change can be the best predictor of treatment outcomes. This module explores the often-subtle language that indicates a client’s growing readiness to undertake challenging changes.
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
This is the fourth module in this mini course, which takes a deep dive into the heart of compassionate communication. Motivational interviewing is an excellent way to connect with people on a deeper level, helping them to make positive changes while becoming a more compassionate and empathetic person yourself. This module focuses on critical questions that will help you refine your approach and make a lasting impact
Has your work been affected by sex trafficking? Do you work with individuals who have been trafficked or those who have engaged in trafficking? Or would you simply like to deepen your understanding of these issues?
Join us for these Our Safe Haven sessions, where we delve into the stresses and solutions of navigating such challenging situations. These sessions provide a secure and supportive environment for professionals to engage in meaningful dialogue, share experiences, and collectively work toward prevention, protection, and rehabilitation for those affected by human trafficking. Our hosts, Katie and David, are seasoned professionals in the field who empathize with the hurdles you face and are here to help guide you through.
Has your work been affected by sex trafficking? Do you work with individuals who have been trafficked or those who have engaged in trafficking? Or would you simply like to deepen your understanding of these issues?
Join us for these Our Safe Haven sessions, where we delve into the stresses and solutions of navigating such challenging situations. These sessions provide a secure and supportive environment for professionals to engage in meaningful dialogue, share experiences, and collectively work toward prevention, protection, and rehabilitation for those affected by human trafficking. Our hosts, Katie and David, are seasoned professionals in the field who empathize with the hurdles you face and are here to help guide you through.
There is growing recognition that many adults with a sexual attraction for children are motivated not to cause harm. Referred to as minor-attracted persons (MAPs), these individuals have not committed sexual offenses and the primary goal is to provide support to help them remain free of offending. Yet, these clients, and those who treat them, face the additional challenge of apprehension among lay persons and other professionals who do not understand the complexities of this issue, conflating these well-intentioned MAPs with people who have harmed. Implementing the right treatment approaches is crucial in safeguarding children and helping clients build better lives for themselves.
This training explores how stigma, social norms, moral panic, and sexual attraction act as barriers to those seeking help in preventing themselves from committing their first offense. Dr. Spooner provides a comprehensive understanding of minor-attracted people, as well as the inaccurate narratives about MAPs that result in strained relationships between providers and clients. Lastly, participants are encouraged to identify and reflect on their personal biases, explore effective approaches to meeting the needs of MAPs, and consider alternative approaches to current practices.
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!
This training offers an in-depth exploration of Motivational Interviewing (MI) strategies for identifying and exploring client motivations that may not seem evident, particularly among those who seem resistant to treatment. Presenter David Prescott reviews four micro-skills and specific techniques involving scaling questions and options menus for engaging clients and focusing on personally meaningful and relevant goals. Some of these skills review a new examination; this includes differentiating between simple and complex affirmations. Prescott also reviews the less-obvious ways that clients indicate that they are considering making changes to their lives and offers skills for strengthening commitment to treatment goals.
By effectively applying these MI principles and techniques, clinicians can significantly enhance treatment outcomes and empower clients to make meaningful and lasting life changes.
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!
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
Across her 24-year career, presenter Katie Gotch has researched, assessed, and treated numerous men convicted of crimes related to sex trafficking. Katie developed this training to provide information on domestic and international human trafficking, with a focus on the perpetration of sex trafficking, followed by an overview of the current research related to perpetrators of domestic sex trafficking in the United States. The session also provides practical guidance and strategies for the assessment, treatment, management, and supervision of those who perpetrate domestic sex trafficking.
Our Safe Haven sessions are a unique opportunity for professionals to engage in informal discussions about their work in the mental health field. At Safer Society, we place a high value on community and collaboration, creating environments where professionals can share experiences, seek support, and practice self-care. These sessions are a chance to embrace compassionate and empathetic approaches that promote healing for both those who cause harm and those who have been harmed.
Unlike our more exclusive ‘Our Safe Haven’ sessions, these gatherings focus on organic discussions about the inherent challenges and victories in this demanding field.
Practitioners and parents alike have seen the dramatic increase of sexually explicit media (SEM) across various digital platforms, extending beyond traditional adult websites to social media and mainstream online spaces. This presents new challenges for parents, educators, and health professionals in guiding adolescents and children through their media consumption.
As media outlets evolve to keep viewers engaged, so too must our approaches to media literacy and education for young people. However, professionals and caregivers face many challenges when teaching youths how to be sophisticated consumers of media.
Join us for an upcoming Our Safe Haven session, featuring a discussion moderated by Seth Wescott and David Prescott. These sessions provide a forum for professional dialogue on the challenges associated with SEM and its dangerous impacts on youths. These sessions offer attendees an opportunity for open discussion, support, and skill development. Your contributions will enrich the collective understanding and help shape best practices in this evolving field.
Diagnosing paraphilias can be challenging due to the evolving definitions and criteria across diagnostic manuals, leading to discrepancies in classification and diagnosis. Additionally, distinguishing between paraphilic interests and paraphilic disorders—as well as addressing the potential misuse of diagnostic criteria—further complicates the process.
During this training, Dr. Michael Miner, Emeritus Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, addresses the criteria and processes of diagnosing paraphilias and paraphilic disorders as described in the DSM-5-TR. He covers historical and current definitions, clarifies the differences between paraphilias and disorders, focuses on pedophilia considerations, and guides attendees through diagnosing various paraphilias, such as sexual sadism and voyeurism, with insights on applying DSM-5-TR criteria effectively.
Staying informed about the latest research and practice innovations is essential for practitioners working with juveniles who have sexually offended. This training is designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and resources necessary to understand, assess, and treat adolescents who have sexually abused. By delving into emerging research findings and best practices, this training addresses the complexities faced by practitioners striving to implement the most effective policies and programs.
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.
The SAPROF-SO is a tool for assessing protective factors for individuals with a history of sexual offending, integrating with strengths-based therapeutic approaches. This tool comprises 14 items across three key subscales: Resilience, Adaptive Sexuality, and Prosocial Connection & Reward, with an optional fourth subscale, Professional Risk Management.
Renowned for its strong reliability and predictive validity for reduced sexual recidivism (e.g., Nolan et al., 2023; Willis et al., 2020), the SAPROF-SO is instrumental in guiding therapy planning and risk management strategies (Kelley et al., 2022). This workshop, presented by Gwenda Willis, David Thornton, and Sharon Kelley, offers a training opportunity for clinicians interested in learning how to score and interpret the SAPROF-SO. Participants will also have the option of becoming certified SAPROF-SO users by completing a post-training calibration scoring exercise. All attendees will receive the SAPROF-SO manual and associated materials, ensuring they are well-equipped to implement this tool effectively in their practice.
