Evaluating and Writing Reports on Adults Who Have Sexually Offended
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This training helps you understand how to integrate your knowledge of actuarial risk assessments, the principles of risk, need, and responsivity, motivational interviewing, and report-writing skills into a comprehensive, ethical psychosexual evaluation report. Evaluations can be necessary at various points in the criminal justice process and for many reasons.
The presenters discuss methods of weaving together the results of an evaluation for these diverse forensic contexts. They will cover the components of an evaluation, including interview techniques, producing the written report, and rendering an evidence-supported opinion. They discuss different types of psychosexual evaluations (pre-sentence, SVP, etc.) and the various ethical challenges and implications that arise throughout the evaluation and report-writing process. Finally, the presenters provide strategies for overcoming some of the common pitfalls associated with forensic evaluations.
Topics discussed:
- Types of psychosexual evaluations
- APA and ATSA Best practice guidelines for forensic evaluations
- Components of forensic psychosexual evaluations
- Report-writing strategies
- Tips for maintaining objectivity
Conducting proper psychosexual evaluations can be a challenge for every clinician. While this training is a must for newer practitioners, experienced clinicians will also benefit from new approaches to this challenging task.
1) Describe the ATSA best practices for conducting adult psychosexual evaluations.
2) Identify different types of referral questions associated with psychosexual evaluations.
3) Explain the unique challenges associated with different types of adult psychosexual evaluations.
4) Describe the basic components of the written report.
5) Utilize strategies for maintaining objectivity and navigating common ethical situations that arise in the evaluation process.
Audience
This training is for professionals working with people who have who have perpetrated abuse. Professionals who will benefit from this training include social workers, psychologists, clinical counselors, and interested paraprofessionals.
Content Level
Disclosure
Continuing Education Approval
American Psychological Association (APA)
Safer Society Foundation, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Safer Society Foundation, Inc. maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Who's Presenting
Amy Griffith, PhD, LP
Dr. Griffith is a licensed psychologist who has worked in the field of sexual abuse and violence prevention since 2005 in various capacities, including community, civil commitment, and correctional settings. She initially worked with victims of trauma, then children and adolescents with problematic sexual behavior, and predominantly adult men and women who have committed sexual offenses. Currently, she serves as Statewide Clinical Director of Sexual Offense Services in the Missouri Department of Corrections, employed by Centurion, where she oversees the assessment, treatment, and program development for persons incarcerated for sexual offenses. She also performs evaluations and expert witness testimony for individuals being evaluated for Sexually Violent Predator civil commitment. She is a Clinical Member of ATSA, as well as a member of the Public Policy and (effective 2023) the Adult Clinical Committees. She is also the President of the Missouri Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (MoATSA), in the process of reviving and expanding the state chapter.
Seth Wescott, LMLP, ATSA-F
Seth Wescott is a Licensed Master’s Level Psychologist and has been working with individuals with problematic sexual behaviors since 2002. He has worked in maximum security prisons for both adults and adolescents as well as various community-based settings. In private practice, Seth conducts pre-disposition and pre-adjudication psychosexual evaluations of adults and adolescents. He serves as Co-chair of the ATSA Public Policy Committee, and is a member of the ATSA Adult Clinical Practice Committee. He is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Rockhurst University, and an Adjunct Professor of Counseling at Mid-America Nazarene University.