Continuing Education Center

Reentering society after incarceration is a complex process, particularly for justice-involved individuals with histories of sexual offending, intimate partner violence, or other behaviors that place them at risk of perpetrating harm. Professionals in the field play a crucial role in supporting these individuals as they work to rebuild trust, connection, and healthy relationships. Grounded in relational, trauma-informed, and accountability-centered frameworks, this training offers participants a compassionate approach to working with justice-involved clients and the crucial skills that help prevent further harmful behavior.

Through a blend of psychoeducation, interactive discussion, and hands-on skill-building, participants learn how to accompany clients in an exploration of boundary setting, consent, attachment dynamics, shame resilience, and the impact of social stigma on relational development. Special attention is given to navigating dating, disclosure, and emotional vulnerability in ways that prioritize both client safety and community responsibility.

Staying current with best practices is essential for professionals working with adults involved in sexual offending. This free training provides an overview of advances in the field over the past half century, offering participants practical knowledge needed to prevent further offending and support clients in building lives where abuse is unnecessary and undesirable. The presenters—Katie Gotch, Seth Wescott, and David Prescott—draw on current research, practical experience, and the collective expertise of leaders in the field. Participants have the opportunity to reflect on evolving standards and consider how these changes can inform their daily practice.

This training is suitable for both new professionals entering the field and experienced professionals interested in the latest developments and practices. Participants gain a clearer understanding of how to apply evidence-based strategies in their work and contribute to safer, healthier communities.

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.