Group Therapy for Adults Who Have Sexually Abused

Providing group therapy requires more skill than many professionals often realize. This training is for professionals who are new to the field as well as more seasoned professionals who want to learn new skills from an established expert.

For many years, group therapy has been the preferred mode of treating adults who had sexually abused, quite simply because it is more efficient—in terms of both time and cost—than individual treatment. Today, however, we know that group treatment is about so much more than treating many clients at once.

The Fundamentals of Sex Offense-Specific Treatment

Effective sex offense-specific treatment programs consider their participants’ risk for re-offense, the treatment needs that contribute to this risk, and each client’s individualized ability to respond to interventions. It is now standard practice to assess dynamic risk to improve the overall accuracy of risk assessments. This training provides vital information about how treatment providers can help participants understand and address individual dynamic risk factors and to manage sexual impulses and arousal.

Cultural and Language Inclusivity in Adult Psychosexual Evaluations

This workshop focuses on how to incorporate cultural and person-first language considerations into adult Psychosexual Evaluations (PSEs). It provides a brief review of the principles of risk, need, and responsivity, culture-related definitions and concepts, the Hays ADDRESSING framework, and the American Psychological Association’s Inclusive Language Guidelines. This training also addresses intersectionality, consensual non-monogamy, and kink culture. It offers strategies for preparing evaluations, selecting appropriate tools, interviewing, scoring, and report writing. Anonymized and fictional case examples will be discussed. Questions and case examples are highly encouraged.

Enhancing Mental Health Support for LGBTQ+ Youths

As society continues to embrace diversity, the mental health community is increasingly called upon to provide effective and affirming care for LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse youths. With over two million such children and adolescents in the United States—a number that is steadily increasing—the need for specialized knowledge and skills is more important than ever.

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.

Implementing the Principles of Risk Need Responsivity: Lessons Learned as a Military Correctional Treatment Facility Transitioned to the RNR

The principles of effective correctional rehabilitation, also known as risk, need, and responsivity (RNR) have become recognized as an essential foundation for the treatment of individuals who have committed sexual offenses. While research has demonstrated the importance of these principles, many agencies face challenges in moving existing programs to this model. Examples of these challenges include:

Testifying in Juvenile Cases: A Neuroscience and Psychosocial Development Framework

Mental health professionals frequently serve as expert witnesses in court cases in which juveniles face the possibility of being prosecuted as adults. Neuroscience and psychosocial development research support the findings that adolescents are less capable of mature judgement and more vulnerable to negative external influences, but also have a greater capacity for change and reform. Research has also identified indicators of normative psychosocial maturity associated with desistance from antisocial behavior, even among serious juvenile offenders. Landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases have been based on elaborating fundamental differences between adolescents and adults that inform decisions about criminal culpability, responsibility, and sentencing. 

Innovative Approaches to Therapy for Young People Who Sexually Abuse

Young people with a history of sexually harmful behaviors tend to display a striking lack of self-regulation and relationship-building skills. In this workshop, the presenters first explore two treatment approaches: Dialectical Behavior Therapy and multi-sensory interventions employed in recreational therapy. They then introduce workshop participants to a suite of interventions that are based on those approaches and can be used to infuse group-based and individual therapy sessions with effective, ap