Non-Offending Relatives Coping After a Child Sexual Abuse Material Conviction
Please note: This webinar is not eligible for continuing education (CE) credit due to its informal, conversational format. Participants who attend the full live session will, however, receive a Certificate of Attendance.
This webinar is for professionals and other individuals who work with or are interested in supporting families of people who have committed sexual offenses, particularly CSAM offenses. This included therapists, counselors, and social workers. Criminal justice, probation, child protection, and related practitioners, policymakers, and researchers will also benefit from this webinar.
Dr. Elaine Kavanagh is a researcher and practitioner in the Republic of Ireland. Her work has focused on a number of areas, including the experiences of non-offending relatives of individuals who have committed sexual offenses, particularly those convicted of possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). In 2024, she and her co-authors, Elaine L. Kinsella and Patrick Ryan, published “‘Your world, everything just implodes, it really is a life-changing experience’: how do relatives of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) offenders navigate life following discovery of the offence?” an open-access paper in NOTA’s Journal of Sexual Aggression.
The stigma attached to sexual crime is profound and often extends to innocent family members. In this webinar, Dr. Kavanagh explores how these relatives experience intense shame, trauma, and stigma that permeate all areas of their lives. Her research offers practical recommendations for improving support systems for affected families—helping them to cope, rebuild their lives, and potentially play a role in the desistance of the person who offended from future CSAM use. This work also contributes to a deeper understanding of secondary trauma among relatives of individuals who commit sexual crimes.
Drawing on this and related studies, Dr. Kavanagh exemplifies the scientist-practitioner approach, reflecting not only on the practical implications of her findings but also on her personal and professional experiences researching such sensitive and complex issues.
Who's Presenting
Elaine Kavanagh
Dr. Elaine Kavanagh is a social worker with over twenty-five years of experience in working with vulnerable clients with complex needs, ranging from children and families at risk to adults impacted by addictions, homelessness, and mental health issues. She is particularly interested in research about stigma, group responses, and adjustments to a shared trauma.