Continuing Education Center

Working in the field of sexual and social violence prevention is challenging, and navigating disabilities can make it even more complex. Whether the disability is visible or unseen, the realities of managing personal health, professional responsibilities, and social expectations can be both exhausting and, at times, isolating.

Led by Katie Gotch, a clinical professional with lived experience of disability, and David Prescott, a mental health practitioner in the field for four decades, these sessions offer a safe, non-judgmental space to connect, share, and build strategies that can make a meaningful impact on our day-to-day challenges. Each session begins with a focused exploration of a specific topic, evolving naturally into an engaging, attendee-driven conversation shaped by shared experiences and professional insights.

ndividuals with marginalized sexual orientations and/or sexual identities (MOGI) encounter numerous interrelated challenges, including stigma, discrimination, and violence in social, educational, and professional environments; heightened risk of mental health issues due to social isolation and abuse; barriers to accessing vital health and support services; and rejection from families or communities, often resulting in homelessness and further marginalization. These challenges are compounded by cultural misunderstandings, intersecting forms of exclusion, and gaps in societal and institutional support. Addressing them requires a collective effort to advance inclusion, equity, and community acceptance for people of all MOGI, ensuring their dignity and rights are respected and upheld.

In response to these realities, we invite those supporting MOGI-diverse individuals and members of their communities to join us for this series of professional dialogues moderated by Jimmy Widdifield, Jr., and David Prescott. Created to foster meaningful and respectful conversations, these sessions provide a space for professionals to openly explore the challenges faced by individuals with diverse MOGIE. Through shared experiences, expert insights, and practical guidance, attendees will gain strategies to strengthen advocacy, promote inclusive practices, and build effective allyship—helping to foster environments where all people can live authentically and thrive.

Working in the field of sexual and social violence prevention is challenging, and navigating disabilities can make it even more complex. Whether the disability is visible or unseen, the realities of managing personal health, professional responsibilities, and social expectations can be both exhausting and, at times, isolating.

Led by Katie Gotch, a clinical professional with lived experience of disability, and David Prescott, a mental health practitioner in the field for four decades, these sessions offer a safe, non-judgmental space to connect, share, and build strategies that can make a meaningful impact on our day-to-day challenges. Each session begins with a focused exploration of a specific topic, evolving naturally into an engaging, attendee-driven conversation shaped by shared experiences and professional insights.

In these Our Safe Haven sessions, we invite you to join Steven Sawyer and David Prescott to explore the complexities of group intervention, from addressing denial and minimization to managing difficult group dynamics and safeguarding the wellbeing of clinicians. Each session begins with a focused theme, evolving naturally into an engaging, attendee-driven conversation shaped by shared experiences and professional insights.

ndividuals with marginalized sexual orientations and/or sexual identities (MOGI) encounter numerous interrelated challenges, including stigma, discrimination, and violence in social, educational, and professional environments; heightened risk of mental health issues due to social isolation and abuse; barriers to accessing vital health and support services; and rejection from families or communities, often resulting in homelessness and further marginalization. These challenges are compounded by cultural misunderstandings, intersecting forms of exclusion, and gaps in societal and institutional support. Addressing them requires a collective effort to advance inclusion, equity, and community acceptance for people of all MOGI, ensuring their dignity and rights are respected and upheld.

In response to these realities, we invite those supporting MOGI-diverse individuals and members of their communities to join us for this series of professional dialogues moderated by Jimmy Widdifield, Jr., and David Prescott. Created to foster meaningful and respectful conversations, these sessions provide a space for professionals to openly explore the challenges faced by individuals with diverse MOGIE. Through shared experiences, expert insights, and practical guidance, attendees will gain strategies to strengthen advocacy, promote inclusive practices, and build effective allyship—helping to foster environments where all people can live authentically and thrive.

The Becoming Who I Want to Be workbooks for young men and women were designed for professionals working with youths with problematic behaviors toward others. Designed to be approachable and interactive, the workbooks engage clients whose adverse childhood experiences and problem behaviors have caused them to fall behind academically, socially, and emotionally. Based on the Good Lives Model (GLM), the workbook translates complex theory into practical strategies for treatment settings.

This training shows participants how to effectively integrate the workbooks into their therapeutic practice. Presenter and author David Prescott begins the training by reviewing the core principles of the GLM. He then offers ideas for how clinicians and counselors can use each section. Central to this training is its focus on dovetailing the GLM and these workbooks with Motivational Interviewing skills and the principles of Trauma-Informed Care, ensuring that intervention is not only effective but also client-centered and deeply supportive.