Evaluations of People Convicted of Sex Crimes Specific to the Adam Walsh Act

The Adam Walsh Act (AWA) prohibits a US citizen petitioner who has been convicted of a specified offense against a minor from having an immigrant visa approved on behalf of a relative. However, the statute provides a “limited exception” if the Secretary of Homeland Security determines the petitioner poses no risk to the beneficiary. This limited exception determination is made after an assessment of the petitioner, usually by a psychologist specialized in treating and assessing individuals who have sexually offended.

Assessments for determining risk under the AWA are intricate, involving evaluators in complex clinical and ethical dilemmas uncommon in typical sexual offender evaluations. During this training, psychologist Dr. Thompson and immigration attorney Mr. Lolly discuss the intricacies of these assessments—what works and what doesn’t—arriving at recommendations from both legal and clinical perspectives.

$60

Our Safe Haven: Honey’s Hive Edition

Join us in honoring our founder Fay Honey Knopp’s legacy by being part of a transformative online community dedicated to creating a safer society free of sexual and social violence.

In contrast to exclusive ‘Our Safe Haven’ sessions, these dynamic gatherings welcome everyone working in the field of abuse and trauma prevention. In Honey’s Hive, we gather like bees in a hive, buzzing with collaboration and empowerment. In every session, we will engage in discussions about the inherent challenges and victories in this demanding field that arise organically.

$8

Diagnosing Paraphilias: Strategies and Considerations for Assessing Those Who Have Committed Sexual Offenses

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.

$90

Strategies for Healing in Sibling Sexual Abuse Cases

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.

Free

Our Safe Haven: Honey’s Hive Edition

Join us in honoring our founder Fay Honey Knopp’s legacy by being part of a transformative online community dedicated to creating a safer society free of sexual and social violence.

In contrast to exclusive ‘Our Safe Haven’ sessions, these dynamic gatherings welcome everyone working in the field of abuse and trauma prevention. In Honey’s Hive, we gather like bees in a hive, buzzing with collaboration and empowerment. In every session, we will engage in discussions about the inherent challenges and victories in this demanding field that arise organically.

$8

Separating Fact From Fiction in Adolescent Re-Offense Rates

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.

Free

Our Safe Haven: Encountering Cases of Sibling Sexual Abuse

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!

$8

Clarification Processes in Sibling Sexual Abuse: Ethical Decision-making and Best Practices

Clarification involves honesty about abusive behaviors, taking responsibility for them, and building a safer future.

Professionals have long faced the challenge of helping families in the wake of sexual abuse. Practitioners must consider the complex needs of multiple people, including those who have harmed others and been harmed directly and indirectly within the family. Primary considerations include assisting families in building safety plans, ensuring the rights and welfare of those harmed are met, preventing re-traumatization, and having the sibling who has abused learn accountability.

$90

Providing Treatment to Minor-Attracted People

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.

$75

Our Safe Haven: Working with Clients We Can’t Reach

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.

$8

An Introduction to Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents

Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents (TGCTA) is a four-module program designed to address trauma and grief in adolescents. It can be implemented in various settings, such as community mental health facilities, schools, clinics, and other service settings. This training covers the four modules of TGCTA, which address foundational knowledge and skills to enhance posttraumatic emotional, cognitive, and behavioral regulation, processing of trauma experiences, processing of grief/loss experiences, and the resumption of adaptive developmental progression and future orientation.

Presenter Erica Ogletree highlights the features of TGCTA that support its initial implementation and long-term sustainability. This includes detailed instructions with suggested scripts for each session, which is especially useful when there is clinician turnover. Additionally, the grief component in TGCTA aligns fully with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association , 2013), and it is the only contemporary adolescent treatment that does so. Resistant youths in some settings appear more willing to engage fully with the grief than with the trauma component, thus opening other doors to recovery.

$60

Addressing Adolescent Exposure to Pornography

During this training David Prescott and Seth Wescott explore the realities of pornography use by adolescents, and discuss the clinical implications. They describe the proliferation of explicit content and how, in many cases, how it has become more concerning.

The presenters offer strategies and ideas for working with young people who struggle with pornography exposure to parents and caregivers, clinical practitioners, school counselors, and other professionals. By fostering a deeper understanding of the role of pornography in the lives of adolescents, this training empowers attendees to navigate this challenging area and better support their clients.

$60

Our Safe Haven: Working with Clients We Can’t Reach

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.

$8

Our Safe Haven: Honey’s Hive Edition

Join us in honoring our founder Fay Honey Knopp’s legacy by being part of a transformative online community dedicated to creating a safer society free of sexual and social violence.

In contrast to exclusive ‘Our Safe Haven’ sessions, these dynamic gatherings welcome everyone working in the field of abuse and trauma prevention. In Honey’s Hive, we gather like bees in a hive, buzzing with collaboration and empowerment. In every session, we will engage in discussions about the inherent challenges and victories in this demanding field that arise organically.

$8

Working with Non-Traditional Sexual Interests in Sexual Offense Treatment

Professionals working with clients who have committed sexual offenses often face significant challenges in understanding and accepting their clients’ sexual preferences. While their primary goal is to prevent future sexual abuse, professionals must acknowledge that each client has their own unique sexuality. Avoiding discussions with a client about their non-traditional sexual interests can lead to missed opportunities for fostering sexual health and exploring avenues for abuse prevention. Attempting to eradicate non-traditional sexuality from the client’s life can be ineffective and unethical. Therefore, how should helping professionals proceed in such situations?

Nikole Nassen, Ph.D., a distinguished clinical psychologist and the director of the Sex Offender Treatment Program at Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar, brings her wealth of experience in working with individuals who have expressed non-traditional sexual interests to the forefront. During this training, Dr. Nassen first presents data on BDSM (Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, and Sadism and Masochism) and other practices in the kink community, unveiling surprising insights from research studies. Dr. Nassen then examines “kink culture” and illustrates how many of its strongest values are antithetical to abuse. Enhanced comprehension of non-traditional sexual preferences among professionals can significantly enhance the effectiveness of treatment interventions.

$60

Restorative Justice, Institutional Failures, and Survivor Criminology

In this webinar, Dr. Ackerman shares her experiences navigating the complexities of RJ in these challenging circumstances. She discusses how the field has grown while highlighting areas where gaps and opportunities for improvement remain. She then describes her work with Survivor Criminology, a trauma-informed approach to the study of crime and justice that stems from the lived experiences of crime survivors. Dr. Ackerman’s expertise in Survivor Criminology provides a unique perspective on addressing the needs and experiences of survivors within the criminal justice system.

Free

Exploring Cultural Competence in Forensic Practice: What Can We Learn from Evaluations and Treatment with Myanmar Refugees?

Central to this training is the question: “What can we learn from refugees from Myanmar that can inform our forensic work with other clients?”

This training takes an in-depth look at developing skills for becoming more culturally competent, respectful, and humble within practice using the forensic assessment of refugees from Myanmar as the central example. It aims to equip mental health professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of cross-cultural assessments and interventions, fostering a deeper understanding and respect for diverse cultural backgrounds. With an increasing number of Burmese refugees being treated in various settings, the presenters provide practical strategies for forensic evaluators to understand the cultural backgrounds and experiences of their clients through empathic listening and culturally sensitive approaches.

$50

Blending Motivational Interviewing Skills with Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

The integration of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) can provide clients with a more empowering, collaborative, and effective therapeutic experience. Rather than focusing on the issues that brought clients to seek therapy, SFBT concentrates on cultivating solutions and leveraging the client’s strengths. By combining the collaborative, empathetic techniques of MI with the future-oriented, strengths-based techniques of SFBT, professionals can help clients achieve lasting change in a brief timeframe. During this training, Dee-Dee Stout explores key concepts and strategies of both MI and SFBT.

$60.00

Our Safe Haven: Working with Clients We Can’t Reach

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.

$8

The Role of Empathy in Shaping the Lives of Justice-Involved Men

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.

$50